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A cheap method for diagnosis of cancer

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M. Imran Qadir at Bahauddin Zakariya University
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Abstract

Major issue in the treatment of cancer is its early diagnosis. If cancer is diagnosed at earlier stage, it can easily be treated. Alteration in plasma lipid profile may also be used as marker for diagnosis of cancer.
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Pharmacologyonline 3: 186-189 (2010) ewsletter M. Imran Qadir
186
A Cheap Method for Diagnosis of Cancer
M. Imran Qadir
College of Pharmacy, GC University Faisalabad, Pakistan
*
Correspondence: mimranqadir@hotmail.com
Summary
Major issue in the treatment of cancer is its early diagnosis. If cancer is
diagnosed at earlier stage, it can easily be treated. Alteration in plasma
lipid profile may also be used as marker for diagnosis of cancer.
Key Words: Plasma lipids, Cancer
Introduction
Major issue in the treatment of cancer is its early diagnosis. If cancer is diagnosed at
earlier stage, it can easily be treated by medicines available, like chemotherapy. The
current methods used for cancer diagnosis are costly and are not approachable by poor.
So it was a need to search some new methods which must be easily approachable by
common citizens. Estimation of plasma lipid profile is usually used for the diagnosis of
heart diseases. It has been established that plasma lipid profile is changed in cancer
patients. So the change in plasma lipid profile may also be used as marker for diagnosis
of cancer. Most of the work in search of this relation between plasma lipids and cancer
was done by MI Qadir et al.,
1-3
so the test may be named as Qadir’s test for cancer.
Plasma Lipid Profile
Lipids are carried in body fluids with the help of lipoproteins, chylomicrons transport of
triglycerides from the intestine to all cells.
4,5
Very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL) are
involved in the transportation of triglycerides from the liver to other cells. Low-density
lipoproteins (LDL) are responsible for the transport of cholesterol from liver to the cells
and high density lipoproteins (HDL) are involved for the transport of cholesterol from
cells to the liver. Chylomicrons and very low density lipoproteins are rapidly
catabolized.
6,7
Thus triglycerides, cholesterol, LDL–cholesterol and HDL–cholesterol
constitute Plasma Lipid Profile.
Pharmacologyonline 3: 186-189 (2010) ewsletter M. Imran Qadir
187
Relation of Plasma Lipids With Cancer
Several prospective and retrospective studies have shown an inverse association between
blood lipids and different cancers.
8-14
Cholesterol and triglycerides have very very
important physiological rule in cells. Cholesterol maintains functional as well as
structural integrity of all biological membranes. It is also involved in the activity of
membrane bound enzymes and is important for stabilization of the DNA helix.
15,16
Cellular uptake and regulation of cholesterol is mediated by lipoprotein receptors
especially located on the surface of the cells. For transport in plasma, triglycerides and
cholesterol are packaged into lipoproteins, which are then taken up and degraded by cells
to fulfill demands for cellular functions. Low levels of plasma lipids could be due to the
process of carcinogenesis. As during carcinogenesis more cells are proliferating, more
plasma lipids are utilized for their synthesis. Thus lower levels of plasma lipids may be
used as indicator of cancer.
Estimation of Plasma Lipid Profile
Plasma levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, LDL-cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol
may be estimated by using spectrophotometer.
Triglycerides
Triglycerides may be determined by enzymatic method (GPO-PAP method), using the
commercially available kit.
Procedure: Three cuvettes are washed with distilled water and are labelled blank,
standard and sample. 20 µl distilled water, 20 µl standard and 20 µl sample, are pipetted
in each cuvette respectively. Chromogen reagent, 2 ml is added to each cuvette, contents
of all the cuvettes are mixed thoroughly and incubated for 5 minutes at room temperature.
The wavelength of spectrophotometer is set at 500 nm. Result command is given to
spectrophotometer and after some time results are displayed. The blood triglycerides
levels are calculated by applying the following formula.
Absorbance of sample
Triglycerides mg/dl = x 200
Absorbance of standard
Total Cholesterol
Rapid enzymatic determination of the total cholesterol by CHOD-PAP method, may be
performed by using the commercially available kit.
Procedure: Three cuvettes are washed with distilled water and are labelled blank,
standard and sample. 20 µl distilled water, 20 µl standard and 20 µl sample are pipetted
in each cuvette respectively. Chromogen reagent, 2 ml is added to each cuvette. Contents
of all the cuvettes are mixed thoroughly and incubated for 5 minutes at 37°C. The
wavelength of spectrophotometer is set at 500 nm. Result command is given to
spectrophotometer and after some time results are displayed. The blood cholesterol levels
are calculated by applying the following formula.
Pharmacologyonline 3: 186-189 (2010) ewsletter M. Imran Qadir
188
Absorbance of sample
Cholesterol mg/dl = x 200
Absorbance of standard
LDL-Cholesterol
LDL-cholesterol is determined by precipitation method. Tests may be performed by using
the commercially available kit.
Procedure: For sample preparation; 100 µl sample and 1000 µl precipitant are placed in a
tube. After through mixing the tube is allowed to stand for 15 minutes at room
temperature and then is centrifuged at 1500 rpm for 15 minutes. Supernatant is separated
from the sediment and cholesterol is measured by the CHOD-PAP method. The LDL-
cholesterol levels were calculated by applying the following formula.
LDL-cholesterol mg/dl = Total cholesterol – Cholesterol in supernatant
HDL-Cholesterol
HDL-cholesterol may be determined by using the commercially available kit.
Procedure: For sample preparation; 200 µl sample and 500 µl precipitant are placed in a
tube. After through mixing the tube is allowed to stand for 10 minutes at room
temperature and then is centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 10 minute. Supernatant is separated
from the sediment and HDL-cholesterol is measured by the CHOD-PAP method.
References
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sarcoma patients. Pak J Pharm Sci, 19, 155–158.
2. Qadir MI, Naveed AK, Ahmad I, Malik SA (2007). Plasma Lipid Profile in
Childhood Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma Patients. Pak Paed J, 31, 167–70.
3. Qadir MI, Malik SA (2008). Plasma Lipid Profile in Gynecologic Cancers.
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apoprotein E is associated with cholesterol efflux and HDL internalization". J. Bio
Chem, 278, 14370–78.
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7. Murray RK, Granner DK, Mayes PA and Rodwell VW (2000). Lipid transport
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leukemia. Association between disease activity and plasma low density
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Site-specific analysis of total serum cholesterol and incident cancers in the
National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey I epidemiologic follow-up
study. Cancer Research, 48, 452–8.
14. Halton JM, Nazir DJ, McQueen MJ, Barr RD (1998). Blood lipid profiles in
children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Cancer, 83, 379–84.
15. Sabine JR (1977). Cholesterol. Marcel Dekker, #ew York.
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  • Nov 1981
  • AM J MED
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Abnormal blood lipid profiles have been associated with cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the frequency and clinical significance of altered lipid profiles in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common form of malignant disease in this age group. Fasting blood lipid profiles (cholesterol [C], triglycerides [TG], high density lipoprotein [HDL], low density lipoprotein, very low density lipoprotein, apolipoproteins A1 [apo A1] and B, and lipoprotein a [Lp(a)]) were obtained in 24 children with ALL at diagnosis, 16 children during consolidation therapy with L-asparaginase, and 18 children during maintenance therapy without L-asparaginase. For comparison the authors studied lipid profiles in 15 children previously treated for leukemia, 15 healthy control children, and 17 children with other forms of cancer, both localized and widespread. An altered blood lipid profile was observed at the time of diagnosis of ALL. Statistically significant values included elevated TG (1.82+/-1.23 mmol/L), reduced HDL-C (0.54+/-0.24 mmol/L), and reduced ApoA1 (0.77+/-0.18 g/L) levels. A wide range of Lp(a) levels (0-1990 mg/L) were observed. Significantly reduced HDL-C (0.55+/-0.20 mmol/L) and ApoA1 (0.69+/-0.22 g/L) were observed in children with widespread but not localized solid tumors at diagnosis. C and TG correlated with serum albumin levels. Significant therapy-related changes in lipid profiles were observed in children with ALL during combination therapy with L-asparaginase (extremely elevated TG levels [3.34+/-2.82 mmol/L] and a striking reduction in Lp(a) levels) that were not observed during combination therapy without L-asparaginase or in children during treatment for solid tumors. In this small study there was no relation between these abnormalities and either thromboembolic events or pancreatitis. Blood lipid profiles in children with ALL returned to normal on completion of therapy. The lipid abnormalities observed at diagnosis in children with widespread cancer (ALL or solid tumors) may reflect altered nutritional states or altered lipid metabolism. Reduced concentrations of Lp(a) and elevated TG levels suggest L-asparaginase specific alterations and may provide insight into the toxicity associated with this drug.
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The Clinical and Biologic Significance of Abnormal Lipid Profiles in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes
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  • May 2000
  • J Hematother Stem Cell Res
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