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Aberrations in Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids in Lung Cancer Patients

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Lipids

Abstract

Abnormalities in lipid metabolism have been frequently observed in cancer and are associated with a poor prognosis. However, a detailed, longitudinal characterization of fatty acid status is lacking. This study aimed to assess plasma phospholipid fatty acids before chemotherapy, immediately after and 1 month following chemotherapy in a group of 50 patients newly diagnosed with lung cancer and explore factors which may contribute to aberrations in fatty acids. Their mean ± SD characteristics: age 64 ± 8.5 years, 75% advanced stage disease, body mass index 27.0 ± 5.4 kg/m2, 6 month weight loss −4.6 ± 6.1%. Compared to patients with early stage disease, patients with advanced disease had abnormal fatty acid profiles including significantly lower (P < 0.05) amounts of total phospholipid fatty acids, saturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic and docosahexaenoic). Longitudinal analysis revealed that patients with advanced disease who completed chemotherapy had stable fatty acid levels and continued to maintain levels 1 month following completion of chemotherapy. Comparatively, patients who did not complete chemotherapy due to toxicity or disease progression had progressive loss of total phospholipid fatty acids, stearic, linoleic and n-6 fatty acids and a trend towards lower docosahexaenoic, arachidonic, palmitic, n-3 and saturated fatty acids. These results suggest that loss of fatty acids is prevalent, progressive and potentially influenced by advanced disease and chemotherapy treatment.

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Abbreviations

ALA:

Alpha-linolenic acid

ARA:

Arachidonic acid

AST:

Aspartate aminotransferase

BMI:

Body mass index

DHA:

Docosahexaenoic acid

EPA:

Eicosapentaenoic acid

MUFA:

Monounsaturated fatty acid(s)

NSCLC:

Non-small cell lung cancer

PL:

Phospholipid(s)

PUFA:

Polyunsaturated fatty acid(s)

n-3:

Sum of n-3 fatty acids

n-6:

Sum of n-6 fatty acids

SFA:

Saturated fatty acid(s)

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Kelly-Ann Leonard and Lisa Martin for their assistance with the study. This work was supported by Canadian Institutes of Health Research and by Queen Elizabeth II Graduate scholarship (RAM) and TD Interdisciplinary Health Studentship (RAM).

Conflict of interest

The authors report no conflicts of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, 4-126A Li Ka Shing Centre, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E1, Canada

    Rachel A. Murphy, Taylor F. Bureyko, M. Thomas Clandinin & Vera C. Mazurak

  2. Department of Kinesiology, University of Waterloo, 200 University Avenue W, Waterloo, ON, N2L 3G1, Canada

    Marina Mourtzakis

  3. Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, 11560 University Avenue, Edmonton, AB, T6G 1Z2, Canada

    Quincy S. Chu

  4. Department of Oncology, Dalhousie University, Saint John Regional Hospital, 400 University Avenue, PO Box 2100, Saint John, NB, E2L 4L2, Canada

    Tony Reiman

Authors
  1. Rachel A. Murphy
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  2. Taylor F. Bureyko
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  3. Marina Mourtzakis
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  4. Quincy S. Chu
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  5. M. Thomas Clandinin
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  6. Tony Reiman
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  7. Vera C. Mazurak
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Vera C. Mazurak.

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Murphy, R.A., Bureyko, T.F., Mourtzakis, M. et al. Aberrations in Plasma Phospholipid Fatty Acids in Lung Cancer Patients. Lipids 47, 363–369 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-011-3641-2

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11745-011-3641-2

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