Preoperative serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol as a predictor of poor survival in patients with clear cell renal cell cancer

Preoperative serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol is an independent prognostic factor in patients with renal cell carcinoma after nephrectomy

BACKGROUND

Little is known about the association between the preoperative low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) level and prognosis in patients with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) after nephrectomy, and its prognostic value needs to be elucidated.

METHODS

The clinical and follow-up data of 737 RCC patients who underwent nephrectomy were retrospectively analyzed. The optimal cut-off LDL-C level was determined using X-tile, and then patients were divided into low and high LDL-C groups. The association between LDL-C levels and survival of RCC patients was assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and Cox regression analysis.

RESULTS

The optimal cut-off LDL-C level was 1.93 mmol/L, and patients were divided into the low (≤ 1.93 mmol/L) and high LDL-C (> 1.93 mmol/L) groups. The Kaplan-Meier analysis showed that patients in the low LDL-C group had significantly shorter overall survival (OS), cancer-specific survival (CSS) and recurrence-free survival (RFS) than those in the high LDL-C group (P = 0.001, P = 0.001, and P = 0.003, respectively). The COX univariate analysis showed that the preoperative LDL-C level was closely associated with OS, CSS, and RFS in RCC patients (P = 0.002, P = 0.003, and P = 0.005, respectively). The multivariate analysis showed that the preoperative LDL-C level was an independent factor for predicting survival (OS, CSS and RFS) in RCC patients after nephrectomy. The low preoperative LDL-C levels predicted worse OS (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.337; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.192-4.581; P = 0.013), CSS (HR: 3.347; 95% CI: 1.515-7.392; P = 0.003), and RFS (HR: 2.207; 95% CI: 1.178-4.132; P = 0.013).

CONCLUSIONS

The preoperative LDL-C level is an independent factor for the prognosis of RCC patients after nephrectomy, and low preoperative LDL-C levels predict worse survival (OS, CSS, and RFS).

Fatty acid metabolism reprogramming in ccRCC: mechanisms and potential targets

Lipid droplet formation is a defining histological feature in clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) but the underlying mechanisms and importance of this biological behaviour have remained enigmatic. De novo fatty acid (FA) synthesis, uptake and suppression of FA oxidation have all been shown to contribute to lipid storage, which is a necessary tumour adaptation rather than a bystander effect. Clinical studies and mechanistic investigations into the roles of different enzymes in FA metabolism pathways have revealed new metabolic vulnerabilities that hold promise for clinical effect. Several metabolic alterations are associated with worse clinical outcomes in patients with ccRCC, as lipogenic genes drive tumorigenesis. Enzymes involved in the intrinsic FA metabolism pathway include FA synthase, acetyl-CoA carboxylase, ATP citrate lyase, stearoyl-CoA desaturase 1, cluster of differentiation 36, carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1A and the perilipin family, and each might be potential therapeutic targets in ccRCC owing to the link between lipid deposition and ccRCC risk. Adipokines and lipid species are potential biomarkers for diagnosis and treatment monitoring in patients with ccRCC. FA metabolism could potentially be targeted for therapeutic intervention in ccRCC as small-molecule inhibitors targeting the pathway have shown promising results in preclinical models.

The tangled web of dyslipidemia and cancer: Is there any association?

Cancer is a primary cause of mortality around the world and imposes a significant physiological, psychological, and financial burden on patients. Lipids regulate cell cycle progression and affect cell proliferation, migration, and apoptosis. Therefore, alterations in serum lipid levels might contribute to carcinogenesis. In this article, we review the relationships between triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) levels and different types of cancer. Then, we examine the association between cancer and familial hypercholesterolemia. Finally, we evaluate the impact of statins on different types of cancer. Increased total cholesterol has been reported to increase cellular proliferation and angiogenesis in tumors and inhibit apoptosis. Increased LDL-C has been reported to induce inflammation and increase susceptibility to oxidative damage. HDL-C has anti-oxidation, anti-inflammatory, and antiproliferative properties. Increased levels of serum TG can induce oxidative stress and a chronic inflammatory state and therefore contribute to the proliferation and progression of cancer cells. Statins decrease downstream products of cholesterol synthesis that are crucial in cell proliferation and growth. Thus, lipid components can have prognostic value in cancer and management of serum lipid levels through lifestyle changes and medical therapy can be beneficial in cancer prevention and treatment.

Immune cell-lipoprotein imbalance as a marker for early diagnosis of non-small cell lung cancer metastasis

The underlying molecular mechanisms and evolutionary patterns of lung cancer metastasis remain unclear, resulting in a lack of effective indicators for early diagnosis of metastasis. We retrospectively analyzed 117 patients with primary non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) admitted to Tongji Hospital of Tongji University in 2021, of which 93 patients with tumor metastasis were set as the metastasis group. 24 patients without metastasis were set as the non-metastasis group. The differences of each index in the two groups of patients and the expression levels in different TNM stages were compared. This study intends to evaluate the diagnostic value and net clinical benefit of common blood-related indicators Neutrophil/lymphocyte (NLR), lymphocyte/monocyte (LMR), High density lipoprotein/neutrophil (HNR), High density lipoprotein/monocyte (HMR) and combined assays in NSCLC metastasis for the early diagnosis of patients with NSCLC metastasis. It was found that the level of NLR was higher in metastatic NSCLC than non-metastatic, but the level of LMR, HNR and HMR was lower. The levels of NLR, LMR, HNR and HMR in patients with different TNM stages showed that NLR levels increased with TNM stage, while LMR, HNR and HMR levels decreased. The threshold probability range of the 4 combined tests was greater and the overall clinical benefit rate was higher compared to the individual tests. Our findings suggest that NLR, LMR, HNR and HMR have better diagnostic value for NSCLC metastasis. This study provides a clinical basis for investigating the mechanisms by which immune cells and lipid metabolism-related proteins remodel the microenvironment prior to NSCLC metastasis.

Preoperative Naples prognostic score is a reliable prognostic indicator for newly diagnosed glioblastoma patients

Background

Glioblastoma (GBM) accounts for approximately 80% of malignant gliomas and is characterized by considerable cellularity and mitotic activity, vascular proliferation, and necrosis. Naples prognostic score (NPS), based on inflammatory markers and nutritional status, has a prognostic ability in various cancers. In the current study, we aim to explore the prognostic value of operative NPS in GBM patients and compare the prognostic ability between NPS and controlling nutritional status (CONUT).

Materials and methods

The retrospective analysis was carried out on consecutive newly diagnosed GBM patients who had underwent tumor resection at West China Hospital from February 2016 to March 2019. All statistical analyses were conducted using SPSS software and R software.

Results

A total of 276 newly diagnosed GBM patients were enrolled in the current study. Overall survival (OS) (p < 0.001) and tumor location (p = 0.007) were significantly related to NPS. Serum albumin concentrate, cholesterol concentrate, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, lymphocyte ratio, and CONUT score were all significantly associated with NPS (p < 0.001). The Kaplan–Meier curve indicated that NPS (log-rank test, p < 0.001) and CONUT score (log-rank test, p = 0.023) were significantly associated with OS. Multivariate Cox regression revealed that both NPS and CONUT score served as independent prognostic indicators. The prognostic model with NPS had the strongest prognostic capability and best model-fitting.

Conclusion

In the current study, NPS is found as an independent prognostic indicator for patients with newly diagnosed GBM, and the prognostic ability of NPS is superior to CONUT score.

A New Survival Model Based on Cholesterol Biosynthesis-Related Genes for Prognostic Prediction in Clear Cell Renal Cell Carcinoma

In our study, the value of cholesterol biosynthesis is related to clinical analysis in 32 cancer forms in the GSEA database facility. We have a mutation between 25 CBRGs. In The Cancer Genome Atlas database, clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC, n = 539) was upregulated or downregulated in 22 out of 25 cases (n = 72) compared with normal kidney tissue. Then, using LASSO regression analysis, the survival model that is based on nine risk-related CBRGs (CYP51A1, HMGCR, HMGCS1, IDI1, FDFT1, SQLE, ACAT2, FDPS, and NSDHL) is established. ROC curves confirmed the good omen of the new survival mode, and the area under the curve is 0.72 (5 years) and 0.709 (10 years). High SQLE and ACAT2 expression and low NSDHL, FDPS, CYP51A1, FDFT1, HMGCS1, HMGCR, and IDI1 expression were closely related to patients with high-risk renal clear cell carcinoma. Two types of Cox regression, uni- and multivariate, were used to determine risk scores, age, staging, and grade as independent risk factors for prognosis in patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. The results showed the prediction model established by 9 selected CBRGs could predict the prognosis more accurately.

Targeting HDL in tumor microenvironment: New hope for cancer therapy

Epidemiological studies have shown that plasma HDL-C levels are closely related to the risk of prostate cancer, breast cancer, and other malignancies. As one of the key carriers of cholesterol regulation, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) plays an important role in tumorigenesis and cancer development through anti-inflammation, antioxidation, immune-modulation, and mediating cholesterol transportation in cancer cells and noncancer cells. In addition, the occurrence and progression of cancer are closely related to the alteration of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Cancer cells synthesize and secrete a variety of cytokines and other factors to promote the reprogramming of surrounding cells and shape the microenvironment suitable for cancer survival. By analyzing the effect of HDL on the infiltrating immune cells in the TME, as well as the relationship between HDL and tumor-associated angiogenesis, it is suggested that a moderate increase in the level of HDL in vivo with consequent improvement of the function of HDL in the TME and induction of intracellular cholesterol efflux may be a promising strategy for cancer therapy.