LCAT activity, ox-LDL, and lipid profile in patients with endometrial carcinoma and diabetes mellitus: The interactive effect of concurrent disease

Abstract Background: Decreased Lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase (LCAT) activity, increased level of oxidized low-density lipoproteins (ox-LDL), and dyslipidemia in diabetes and cancer were studied. In this research, LCAT activity, ox-LDL, and lipid profile in patients with endometrial carcinoma, diabetes, and the combination of them, and healthy subjects were measured. Objective: The aim of this study was the evaluation of lipid profile, LCAT activity, and ox-LDL level as an oxidative stress marker in three different pathologic conditions and comparison of them to healthy metabolic state. Methods: In this case-control study, a total of 93 female participants were recruited. Participants were divided into four groups, including endometrial carcinoma with diabetes (EC with DM, n=19), endometrial carcinoma without diabetes (EC, n=17), diabetes (DM, n=31), and Healthy group (H, n=26). The level of LCAT activity, triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C), and ox-LDL were measured. Results: The LCAT activity was decreased in all patient groups compared to healthy controls (p-value<0.001). LCAT activity (nmol/ml/h) was significantly lower in endometrial carcinoma with or without diabetes (mean ± SD = 28.31 ± 2.78, 34.00 ± 4.97, respectively) than in patients with diabetes alone (46.58 ± 9.47). A higher level of TG and ox-LDL and a lower level of HDL-C were seen in all patient groups compared to the healthy controls (all p-values < 0.001). The decrease in LCAT activity (∆ LCAT= LCAThealthy - LCATpatient) was 31.61 in endometrial carcinoma with diabetes, 25.92 in endometrial carcinoma without diabetes, and 13.34 nmol/ml/h in diabetes alone. Conclusion: A decrease in LCAT activity and an increase in ox-LDL level were seen in both endometrial carcinoma and diabetes. The combination of endometrial carcinoma and diabetes had a sub-additive effect on LCAT activity and ox-LDL level.