Background/aims: Cancer cachexia is characterized by a variety of metabolic disorders. Alterations in fat metabolism have been reported to be associated with suppression of tissue lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity in tumor-bearing animals. Interleukin-6 (IL- 6) has been documented to reduce tissue LPL activity and may play a role in inducing cancer cachexia. This study was conducted to clarify the changes in LPL activity and the role of IL-6 in patients with either gastrointestinal cancer or breast cancer.
Methodology: Twelve patients with colorectal cancer, 7 patients with gastric cancer, 7 patients with breast cancer and 5 normal volunteers were studied. Serum concentrations of triglycerides (TG), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and IL-6 were measured. LPL activity was measured in plasma post-heparin administration. The relationships of LPL activity to tumor progression, body weight loss and serum IL-6 levels were examined. The effect of tumor resection on LPL activity was also studied.
Results: LPL activity was suppressed with tumor progression in patients with either gastrointestinal cancer or breast cancer. Suppression of LPL activity and the degree of weight loss were negatively correlated in patients with either gastric or colorectal cancer (r = -0.5826, p = 0.011) but not in patients with breast cancer. The decrease in LPL activity was not always reversed after resection of the tumor. Circulating IL-6 did not correlate with either plasma LPL activity or tumor progression.
Conclusions: Reduced LPL activity in patients with advanced gastrointestinal or breast cancer may reflect changes in nutritional status. Serum IL-6 is less likely to be a mediator of these alterations.