Effects of Chemotherapy on Serum Lipids in Chinese Postoperative Breast Cancer Patients

Role of HDL cholesterol in anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity: a prospective observational study in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated with R-CHOP

OBJECTIVES

Anthracycline-induced cardiotoxicity is a debilitating cardiac dysfunction for which there are no effective treatments, making early prevention of anthracycline-induced subclinical cardiotoxicity (AISC) crucial. High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) plays a role in cardioprotection, but its impact on AISC remains unclear. Our study aims to elucidate the protective capacity of HDL-C in AISC in patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) treated with R-CHOP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, prednisone and rituximab).

DESIGN

Prospective observational study.

SETTING

Conducted in China from September 2020 to September 2022.

PARTICIPANTS

70 chemotherapy-naïve patients newly diagnosed with DLBCL who were scheduled to receive the standard dose of R-CHOP; 60 participants included in a case-control study (DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10085-6).

PRIMARY OUTCOME MEASURES

Serum biomarkers, 2D speckle tracking echocardiography and conventional echocardiography were measured at baseline, at the end of the third and sixth cycles of R-CHOP and 6 and 12 months after chemotherapy.

RESULTS

24 patients experienced AISC, while 10 did not. 36 patients were lost to follow-up and death. Cox regression analysis showed that higher levels of HDL-C were associated with a significantly lower risk of AISC (unadjusted HR=0.24, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.67, p=0.006; adjusted HR=0.27, 95% CI 0.09 to 0.79, p=0.017). Patients without AISC had a more stable and higher HDL-C level during the follow-up period. HDL-C levels significantly decreased from the end of the third cycle of chemotherapy to the end of the sixth cycle of chemotherapy in all patients (p=0.034), and particularly in the AISC group (p=0.003). The highest level of HDL-C was significantly higher in patients without AISC than in those with AISC (1.52±0.49 vs 1.22±0.29, p=0.034).

CONCLUSIONS

Our study suggests that higher HDL-C levels may associate with lower AISC risk in patients with DLBCL treated with R-CHOP. HDL-C could be a cardioprotective target, but further research is needed to confirm its benefits and limitations.

STUDY REGISTRATION NUMBER

Study registration number: ChiCTR2100054721.

Assessing biomarkers for post-surgical wound healing: A meta-analysis of exosome-based CircRNA in breast cancer recovery

To evaluate the diagnostic potential of exosome-based circular RNAs (circRNAs) as biomarkers for wound healing in patients after breast cancer surgery, we conducted a comprehensive meta-analysis of studies that measured exosome-based circRNA levels in breast cancer patients post-surgery. Data sources included several biomedical databases up to April 2023. Two independent reviewers extracted the data and assessed study quality. Sensitivity, specificity and diagnostic odds ratios were synthesized using random-effects model with subgroup analyses performed based on study characteristics. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria, encompassing a total of 1234 patients. The pooled sensitivity and specificity of exosome-based circRNA for detecting wound healing complications were 0.85 (95% CI: 0.77-0.91) and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.78-0.88), respectively. The area under the summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was 0.90, indicating high diagnostic accuracy. Subgroup analyses revealed that diagnostic performance was consistent across studies of different geographic regions and sample types but indicated potential variability related to patient age and study design. Exosome-based circRNA profiles exhibited the high diagnostic accuracy for monitoring wound healing in breast cancer post-operative care. These findings supported the potential utility of circRNA as non-invasive biomarkers for post-surgical recovery. However, variability among studies suggested the need for standardized protocols in biomarker measurement. Future research should focus on longitudinal studies to validate the prognostic value of these biomarkers and investigate their role in personalized patient management.

Lipoprotein(a) in patients with breast cancer after chemotherapy: exploring potential strategies for cardioprotection

Developments in neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy (CHT) have led to an increase in the number of breast cancer survivors. The determination of an appropriate follow-up for these patients is of increasing importance. Deaths due to cardiovascular disease (CVD) are an important part of mortality in patients with breast cancer.This review suggests that chemotherapeutic agents may influence lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) concentrations in breast cancer survivors after CHT based on many convincing evidence from epidemiologic and observational researches. Usually, the higher the Lp(a) concentration, the higher the median risk of developing CVD. However, more clinical trial results are needed in the future to provide clear evidence of a possible causal relationship. This review also discuss the existing and emerging therapies for lowering Lp(a) concentrations in the clinical setting. Hormone replacement therapy, statins, proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin-type 9 (PCSK9) inhibitors, Antisense oligonucleotides, small interfering RNA, etc. may reduce circulating Lp(a) or decrease the incidence of CVD.

Dyslipidemia is associated with a poor prognosis of breast cancer in patients receiving neoadjuvant chemotherapy

BACKGROUND

Lipid metabolism disorders may be involved in the occurrence and development of breast cancer. This study aimed to investigate the serum lipid changes during neoadjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer and the effect of dyslipidemia on the prognosis of breast cancer patients.

METHODS

We collected the data from 312 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery after receiving standard neoadjuvant therapy. χ² test and T-test were employed to analyze the effect of chemotherapy on the serum lipid metabolism of patients. The effects of dyslipidemia on the disease-free survival (DFS) of patients with breast cancer were analyzed by χ² test and COX regression analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 56 out of 312 patients (17.9%) suffered from relapse. The baseline serum lipid level of the patients was significantly correlated with their age and body mass index (BMI) (p < 0.05). Chemotherapy increased the levels of triglycerides, total cholesterol, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, but decreased the level of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p < 0.001). Preoperative dyslipidemia was significantly associated with the axillary pCR rate (p < 0.05). COX regression analysis revealed that the full-course serum lipid level (HR = 1.896 [95%CI 1.069-3.360]; p = 0.029), N stage (HR = 4.416 [95%CI 2.348-8.308]; p < 0.001) and the total pCR rate (HR = 4.319 [95%CI 1.029-18.135]; p = 0.046) acted as prognostic factors affecting DFS in breast cancer. The relapse rate in patients with a high level of total cholesterol was higher than that in patients with a high level of triglycerides (61.9% vs 30.0%; p < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Dyslipidemia deteriorated after chemotherapy. The full-course serum lipid level may thus serve as a blood marker for predicting breast cancer prognosis. Serum lipids should therefore be closely monitored in breast cancer patients throughout the treatment course, and patients with dyslipidemia should be treated in a timely manner.

Metabolic abnormalities and survival among patients with non-metastatic breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Research on the impact of metabolic abnormalities on breast cancer prognosis is limited by small samples and assessment of laboratory values at a single time point, often prior to cancer diagnosis and treatment. In this population-based cohort, time-updated laboratory values were adjusted for cancer treatment to assess the association between metabolic risk factors (glucose, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides) and breast cancer survival.

METHODS

13,434 women diagnosed with stage I-III breast cancer from 2005-15 at Kaiser Permanente were included. All outpatient fasting glucose, HDL-C, LDL-C, and triglyceride values from diagnosis through 2019 or death were extracted from electronic medical records. Risk of breast cancer-specific mortality was evaluated with Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for metabolic labs, demographics, body mass index, diabetes, dyslipidemia and anti-hypertensive medications, tumor characteristics (stage, ER and HER2 receptor status) and cancer treatment (use of chemotherapy, tamoxifen, and aromatase inhibitors).

RESULTS

Mean (SD) age at diagnosis was 62.3 (11.8) years. Over a median follow-up of 8.6 years, 2,876 patients died; 1,080 of breast cancer. Patients with low HDL-C (≤ 45 vs. > 45 mg/dL) had higher breast cancer-specific mortality (HR, 1.77; 95% CI, 1.53-2.05), as did those with elevated fasting glucose (> 99 vs. 60-99 mg/dL) (HR, 1.19; 95% CI, 1.03-1.37). Elevated levels of triglycerides and LDL-C were not associated with breast cancer-specific mortality.

CONCLUSIONS

High fasting glucose and low HDL-C evaluated over time after cancer diagnosis were associated with higher breast cancer mortality independent of cancer treatments and changes in other metabolic risk factors. Future studies should address whether pharmacologic or lifestyle treatment of glucose and lipids after breast cancer diagnosis can optimize survival outcomes.

Cancer therapy's impact on lipid metabolism: Mechanisms and future avenues

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is a growing threat among cancer patients. Not surprisingly, cancer-targeting therapies have been linked to metabolic dysregulation including changes in local and systemic lipid metabolism. Thus, tumor development and cancer therapeutics are intimately linked to cholesterol metabolism and may be a driver of increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in this population. Chemotherapeutic agents affect lipid metabolism through diverse mechanisms. In this review, we highlight the mechanistic and clinical evidence linking commonly used cytotoxic therapies with cholesterol metabolism and potential opportunities to limit atherosclerotic risk in this patient population. Better understanding of the link between atherosclerosis, cancer therapy, and cholesterol metabolism may inform optimal lipid therapy for cancer patients and mitigate cardiovascular disease burden.

Clinical Significance of Kinetics of Low-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol and Its Prognostic Value in Limited Stage Small Cell Lung Cancer Patients

Objectives:

To investigate the clinical significance of dynamic alteration of serum lipids in limited stage small cell lung cancer (LS-SCLC) patients and the risk that different lipid profiles poses to patients’ health.

Methods:

We retrospectively analyzed the variation trends and prognostic values of serum lipids in 310 LS-SCLC patients who had received standard chemotherapy between 2002 and 2017. In addition to serum lipid level, which were measured at the time of pretreatment, after-chemotherapy and during disease progression and later analyzed, the dynamic lipid alteration trend and its correlation to progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were also statistically analyzed using Log-rank test and COX regression analyses.

Results:

A significant decrease in HDL-C level was observed after standard chemotherapy (Post-CT baseline = −0.08 ± 0.34, P < 0.001), and this trend of reduction was further enhanced by thoracic radiotherapy (P = 0.046). Increase in LDL-C level was also observed to be associated with higher likelihood of disease progression (P = 0.003). Moreover, the extent of the increase in LDL-C was also associated with the number of progression sites, as patients with higher increase in LDL-C in exhibiting a progression at more than 2 sites outside thorax (P = 0.037). The patients’ median PFS and OS were 14.04 months (95%CI: 25.12-33.81) and 22.40 months (95%CI: 33.19-42.13), respectively. For both PFS and OS, LDL-C elevation remained an independent prognostic factor in the multivariate model (P = 0.007 and P = 0.022, respectively).

Conclusion:

Overall, for LS-SCLC patients, standard chemotherapy decreases the level of HDL-C, the level of increase in LDL-C could predict disease progression and even the number of progression sites, and LDL-C elevation could be an independent prognostic factor for poor OS and PFS.

Dyslipidemia in breast cancer patients increases the risk of SAR-CoV-2 infection

Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed and second leading cause of death among women worldwide. Elevated levels of lipids have been reported in BC patients. On the other hand, lipids play an important role in coronavirus infections including the newly emerged disease caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) and designated COVID-19 by WHO. Cancer patients including BC have been reported to be at higher risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection, which is mostly attributed to the chronic immunosuppressive status of cancer patients along with the use of cytotoxic drugs. Here in this review, we highlighted the role of dyslipidemia associated with BC patients in the incidence and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Elevated levels of lipids namely phospholipids, cholesterol, sphingolipids, and eicosanoids in the serum of BC patients and their re-localization to the alveolar spaces can increase susceptibility and/or severity due to SARA-CoV-2 infection. Therefore, manipulation of dyslipidemia in BC patients should be recommended as prophylactic and therapy against SARS-CoV-2 infection.