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Effects of Cancer upon High-Density and Other Lipoproteins¹

Divisions of Experimental Chemotherapy and Chemotherapy Research, Sloan-Kettering Institute for Cancer Research, Walker Laboratory, Rye, New York 10580

Serum lipoprotein levels were measured in normal subjects and in patients with cancer. All normal adult subjects were classified according to the amounts of high-density lipoprotein-2 in their sera. It was observed that subjects with low values also had a pronounced positive history of cancer in close blood relatives. The only significant difference between the groups of normal women was a substantially lower amount of the high-density lipoprotein-2 with a density between 1.063 and 1.125 g/ml in those with positive family histories of cancer. Normal men with family histories of cancer also had decreased values for high-density lipoprotein-2 and, in addition, had elevated levels of the very-low-density lipoproteins with densities less than 1.006 g/ml.

Values for the high-density lipoprotein-2 in patients with cancer were significantly below those obtained from normal subjects without a positive family history of cancer. In some patients, notably children with acute leukemia and lymph-angiomatosis, the high-density lipoprotein-2 was absent. The high-density lipoproteins in 14 women with advanced cancer of the breast were characterized by a greater cholesterol content and a lower phospholipid content than seen in the lipoproteins of normal subjects. Bilateral oophorectomies were performed on 4 of the women with advanced, inoperable carcinoma of the breast. Following surgery, the amount of high-density lipoprotein-2 was increased and the amount of very-low-density lipoprotein was decreased in 1 of the 2 patients who responded favorably to the operative procedure.

Twenty-three normal subjects were questioned in detail and given physical examinations at the beginning of the project and 5 years later. They were given questionnaires again 5 years later. Four of these normal subjects (2 men and 2 women) of the 13 with positive family histories of cancer had very low values for high-density lipoprotein-2. They have since developed cancer. The 2 men also had markedly elevated values for the very-low-density lipoproteins. Of the 10 with normal levels for high-density lipoprotein-2 and no or minimal incidence of cancer in the family, none developed cancer within the same time period.

¹ Supported in part by Research Grants CY-3192, CY-3215, and CA-08748 from the National Cancer Institute, USPHS.

Received 2/17/70. Accepted 5/28/70.