Prediagnostic serum tocopherol levels and the risk of non-hodgkin lymphoma: the multiethnic cohort

The altered metabolic pathways of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma not otherwise specified

Altered metabolic fingerprints of Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, not otherwise specified (DLBCL NOS) may offer novel opportunities to identify new biomarkers and improve the understanding of its pathogenesis. This study aimed to investigate the modified metabolic pathways in extranodal, germinal center B-cell (GCB) and non-GCB DLBCL NOS from the head and neck. Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from eleven DLBCL NOS classified according to Hans' algorithm using immunohistochemistry, and five normal lymphoid tissues (LT) were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry-based untargeted metabolomics. Partial Least Squares Discriminant Analysis showed that GCB and non-GCB DLBCL NOS have a distinct metabolomics profile, being the former more similar to normal lymphoid tissues. Metabolite pathway enrichment analysis indicated the following altered pathways: arachidonic acid, tyrosine, xenobiotics, vitamin E metabolism, and vitamin A. Our findings support that GCB and non-GCB DLBCL NOS has a distinct metabolomic profile, in which GCB possibly shares more metabolic similarities with LT than non-GCB DLBCL NOS.

Histopathological prognosis of papillary thyroid carcinoma associated with nutritional status of vitamins A and E

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

Experimental and clinical studies have shown that vitamins A and E can inhibit cancer formation and progression. The unfavourable status of these vitamins can represent risk factors for the disease. This study aimed to evaluate the associations between the nutritional status of vitamins A and E (serum levels and dietary intake) and histopathological outcomes in Papillary Thyroid Carcinoma (PTC) patients.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

We applied a cross-sectional study (2017-2018) and quantified retinol (ROH) and α-tocopherol (TOH) serum levels and vitamins dietary intake of 46 PTC patients. Serum vitamins were quantified by high efficiency liquid chromatography and vitamins dietary intake was analyzed by 24-hr dietary recalls.

RESULTS

Patients with lower ROH serum levels were more likely to present lymph node metastasis and/or angiolymphatic invasion (p = 0.025). In addition, higher vitamin A and vitamin E intake are related to the absence of extrathyroidal extension (p = 0.013) and lymph node metastasis (p = 0.007), respectively. Our findings suggest that a ROH serum level greater than 2.65 μmol/L in PTC patients may be a protective factor against the presence of lymph node metastasis and angiolymphatic invasion. In addition, vitamin A and E intake may protect against extrathyroidal extension and lymph node metastasis.

CONCLUSIONS

A favourable nutritional status (higher serum levels and/or intake) of vitamin A and E may be associated with less aggressive tumours in PTC patients.

Association of serum γ-tocopherol levels with mortality: the Multiethnic Cohort Study

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES

γ-Tocopherol has unique properties that protect against nitrogen oxide-mediated cellular damage. To elucidate the potential role of γ-tocopherol in the aging process, we examined the associations of serum γ-tocopherol levels with all-cause and cause-specific mortality.

SUBJECTS/METHODS

Among participants in the biorepository subcohort of the Multiethnic Cohort Study, pre-cancer diagnostic serum γ-tocopherol levels were measured in a subset of 3904 men and 4461 women. Of these, 22.7% of men and 13.5% of women died during a mean follow-up time of 9.6 ± 2.6 years. Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for mortality associated with γ-tocopherol were estimated by Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Positive associations of serum γ-tocopherol with all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality (CVD) (P_trend < 0.05) were detected after adjusting for age, race/ethnicity, and serum cholesterol levels. The respective HRs (95% CIs) for the highest versus the lowest sex-specific γ-tocopherol quartile were 1.43 (1.17-1.74), 1.79 (1.22-2.64), and 1.52 (1.10-2.11) for men and 1.58 (1.25-2.00), 1.59 (1.05-2.41), and 1.59 (1.07-2.37) for women. Associations remained significant for all-cause mortality among women after further adjusting for smoking variables and history of cancer, CVD, diabetes, and hypertension at cohort entry (highest vs. lowest γ-tocopherol quartile: HR = 1.38; 95% CI = 1.08-1.75; P_trend = 0.005). Overall, associations with all-cause mortality were consistent across race/ethnicity and were significant in three of ten sex-specific racial/ethnic groups in the fully adjusted models, with no interactions between ethnicity and γ-tocopherol.

CONCLUSIONS

The positive association between γ-tocopherol and mortality suggests a potential physiological role for γ-tocopherol in response to pathological conditions.