Reduced blood cholesterol levels were reported in patients with a variety of malignant peripheral tumors. This fact is likely related to increased cholesterol demand by proliferating tumor cells. The question arises whether this 'tumor-associated hypocholesterolemia' occurs also in patients with brain tumors, and--if it does not--whether its absence can be related to the location of the tumors. We have compared fasting serum total cholesterol levels among three groups of patients: 52 patients with gliomas, 56 patients with symptomatic metastatic brain tumors, and 50 patients harboring malignant tumors of peripheral location but showing no clinical signs of brain metastases. Patients in the last group, despite being--on an average--more age-advanced, had lower total serum cholesterol levels than either the patients with gliomas, or the patients with brain metastases. No difference in the cholesterol levels was found between the two latter groups, and a majority of these patients had borderline or elevated cholesterol levels. This apparent absence of 'tumor-associated hypocholesterolemia' in brain tumor patients may be related to either brain tumors' ability to synthesize cholesterol de novo and their reduced dependence on peripheral cholesterol supply, the existence of brain tumor-blood barrier, effect of medications used to counteract brain edema and seizures, or a combination of these factors.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.
customersupport@researchsolutions.com
10624 S. Eastern Ave., Ste. A-614
Henderson, NV 89052, USA
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Copyright © 2024 scite LLC. All rights reserved.
Made with 💙 for researchers
Part of the Research Solutions Family.