Could Low Hdl-Cholesterol Levels Be an Unvalued Predictor of Cancer Risk?: A Retrospective Case Study

Background: The relationship between serum lipid profile levels and cancer risk remained uncertain. Recently, it had been reported a significant inverse association between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) and the risk of incident cancer that was independent of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL), age or sex. Objective: The aim of our study was to evaluate the behavior of HDL in cancer patients and in healthy population. Methods: We created a retrospectively search strategy in the laboratory information system (LIS). We filtered and searched those patients with CEA within 5 - 20 ng/ml and any value of HDL and corroborated the presence of cancer (Group 1 (G1)) or not (Group 2 (G2)). Moreover, we searched a control group (patients in outpatient oncology clinic) to observe the values of HDL. Comparisons and statistical logistic regression models were applied to link the levels of this biomarkers and cancer risk. Results: We examined 852 valid patients, median age 62 (50 - 73) years. Within the search strategy group, G2 showed highest levels of HDL (54 (43 - 67) mg/dl) and lowest CEA levels (6.7 (5.7 - 8.4) ng/ml) comparing with G1: HDL (47 (37 - 60) mg/dl) and the CEA (7.9 (6.2 - 10.9) ng/ml); p < 0.001. The values in control group were: the lowest HDL levels (41 (29 - 54) mg/dl) and CEA (25.2 (6.1 - 124.5) ng/ml); p < 0.001, between oncologic patients and the search strategy group. On logistic regression multivariate analysis, we obtained: r2: 0.092; p < 0.001; HDL [OR: 0.983 (0.974 - 0.993), (p = 0.001)] and CEA [OR: 1.115 (1.060 - 1.174), (p < 0.001)] and they were confirmed as independent predictors of cancer. Conclusion: Our findings confirmed the inverse association of HDL levels between healthy populations and were diagnosed with cancer. Moreover, in a random population, patients with cancer presented lower HDL values compared to those without cancer. Therefore, it could demonstrate the possible positive predictive value of low HDL related to cancer risk.