Reduction in the stearic to oleic acid ratio in leukaemic cells ? A possible chemical marker of malignancy

Abstract

Total lipid extracts of peripheral blood cells from patients with chronic leukaemias were analysed for relative values of saturation of the eighteen carbon chain length fatty acids (C 18 FA). The results are expressed as saturation index (C 18 S:C 18 U) of the saturated C 18 FA (stearic acid) over the unsaturated C 18 FA (oleic, linoleic and linolenic acids). The saturation indices of the white blood cells (WBC) and the red blood cells (RBC) in specimens from 14 patients with chronic granulocytic leukaemia (CGL) and 17 patients with chronic lymphocytic leukaemias (CLL) were significantly and consistently lower than control specimens. It is proposed that the relative increase in the unsaturated oleic acid could prove to be a chemical marker of malignancy reflecting a deficient cellular control of the process of stearic acid desaturation. The theoretical implications of the implied increase in membrane fluidity for the cells are discussed.

Hepatocyte-specific Pten deficiency results in steatohepatitis and hepatocellular carcinomas

“…However, increased oleic acid (C18:1) and decreased stearic acid (C18:0) could increase membrane fluidity, leading to the increased metabolism and proliferation (52,53) characteristic of malignant cells. Analyses of fatty acids present in lipid extracts of transformed cells show a consistent increase in oleic acid content relative to stearic acid (54,55). Indeed, the ratio of oleic to stearic acid is increased in the livers of mice prone to HCC development, such as hepatitis virus C-core transgenic mice (19).…”

Lipid and fatty acid profiles in the brain, liver, and stomach contents of neonatal rats: effects of hypoxia

“…This suggests a likely modification of fatty acid enzymes during hypoxia, similar to tumorigenesis, possibly due to an alteration in the desaturation of 18:0 (3). Furthermore, changes in the ratio of 18:0 to 18:1n-9 have been related to alterations in membrane fluidity (3). Such changes in the ratio of 18:0 to 18:1n-9 in the hypoxic liver might play a role in the modulation of hepatic membrane function.…”

“…For example, phospholipids (PL) are important components of membranes and play key roles in membrane-mediated processes (22). In the brain, neural activity is dependent on both the concentration and type of PL present (6), while in the liver, the ratio of stearic (18:0) to oleic (18:1n-9) acid has been proposed to regulate membrane fluidity (3).…”

Increased Levels of Vaccenic Acid in Bronchogenic Carcinoma Tissue

“…1, 2 The erythrocyte stearic: oleic acid ratio was suggested to be of use in the diagnosis of malignancy.l-' but more recent work has shown this parameter to be of no diagnostic use whatsoever. J5 However, fatty acid changes may occur in malignancies but only present in the actual tumour tissue itself and not be reflected in circulating erythrocytes.…”