Hyperlipidaemia is positively correlated with lymph node metastasis in men with early gastric cancer

Abstract

Background: Although increased dietary fat or cholesterol has been reported to be a risk factor for the development of certain cancers, the effect of serum lipid levels on tumour metastasis is not clearly understood. Methods: The association between lymph node metastasis and preoperative serum levels of total cholesterol (TC) and triglyceride (TG) as well as various pathological findings for tumours was examined in 353 patients with early gastric cancer who underwent gastrectomy with classical lymphadenectomy. Results: The rate of lymph node metastasis was significantly higher in patients with early gastric cancer who had hypercholesterolaemia (TC 220 mg/dl or greater) or hypertriglyceridaemia (TG 150 mg/dl or greater). The tendency was more prominent in men, and multivariate analysis showed that hypertriglyceridaemia was an independent risk factor for nodal metastasis in men, in addition to pathological invasion to the submucosal layer or to lymphatic vessels. In contrast, neither hypercholesterolaemia nor hypertriglyceridaemia showed a significant association with nodal status in women with early gastric cancer. Conclusion: Raised serum lipid levels might favour the development of lymph node metastasis in men with early-stage gastric cancer. In patients with early gastric cancer serum lipid levels should be checked before operation, and the use of minimal local treatments must be considered carefully in male patients with hyperlipidaemia.