linoleic-acid and Uterine-Cervical-Neoplasms

In the first part of this study, the possible role of essential total fatty acids and their metabolites during cervical carcinogenesis was investigated. Since membrane lipids play a key role in cell proliferation and differentiation, disturbances in the fatty acid compositions of cell membranes and the modulation of membrane fatty acid compositions received attention in several in vitro studies. There are, however, no reported studies where the actual total and free (unesterified) fatty acid compositions have been determined during the different stages of cervical carcinogenesis. In part I of this ex vivo study, the total fatty acid compositions of normal tissue, intraepithelial and infiltrating lesions of the cervix were compared. The fatty acid profiles that were determined make it possible to speculate about the metabolic pathways followed during cervical carcinogenesis. Lipids were extracted from biopsies of normal tissue (n=36), cervical intraepithelial lesions (n=47) and infiltrating lesions (n=47). Samples, from which the total fatty acid compositions were determined, were saponified, methylated and analysed by gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Essential fatty acid deficiency (EFAD) in the intraepithelial lesions, compared with normal tissue (linoleic acid, P< 0.01), and infiltrating lesions, compared with intraepithelial lesions (linoleic acid and arachidonic acid, P< 0.01) were observed. High levels of oleic acid were also observed when infiltrating lesions were compared with normal tissue (P< 0.01). This EFAD in cancer cells may result in many defective cell mechanisms. Although there are many risk factors for cervical cancer, the human papilloma virus has emerged over the past decade as the leading candidate to be an aetiological factor. There is ample evidence that human viral infections are associated with reduced levels of linoleic acid and thus participate in the depletion of essential fatty acids in cancer cells.

Topics: Arachidonic Acid; Cervix Uteri; Fatty Acids; Female; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Neoplasm Staging; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

488 women were studied to evaluate the use of the molar ratio (%MR) of octadeca-9,11-dienoic acid (18:2(9, 11] to linoleic acid (18:2(9, 12] as a new screening method for cervical cancer and pre-cancer. A combination of Papanicolaou cytology, colposcopy and %MR 18:2(9, 11)/18:2(9, 12) were employed. 86 women (17.6%) were found to have histologically proven cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN). The %MR was obtained in 452 cases (92%). There was no significant difference in %MR in cervical cell scrapes from women with or without CIN. The %MR of cervical scrapes in some women with anaerobic vaginosis was significantly elevated suggesting bacterial generation of 18:2(9, 11). The %MR of 18:2(9, 11)/18:2(9, 12) is unsuitable for the diagnosis of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia.

Topics: Adult; Biomarkers, Tumor; Carcinoma in Situ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Colposcopy; Female; Humans; Isomerism; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Precancerous Conditions; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

Linoleic acid (18:2(9,12)) and its diene-conjugated isomer (18:2(9,11)) were measured in 65 cervical biopsy samples. Both the 18:2(9,11) concentration and the 18:2(9,11)/18:2(9,12) molar ratio showed highly significant differences between the normal and precancerous groups. Both showed a further significant increase in 4 invasive carcinomas. The findings in histologically normal areas from organs with precancer correlated significantly with the results in the precancerous lesions.

Topics: Biopsy; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; Female; Free Radicals; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; Precancerous Conditions; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms

The molar ratio between a diene-conjugated linoleic-acid isomer (18:2(9,11)) and the parent linoleic acid (18:2(9,12)), both esterified as phospholipids, was significantly different in exfoliated cells from normal cervices and from cervices with colposcopic and cytological evidence of precancer. The measurement may provide a simple and perhaps improved alternative to cytological screening.

Topics: Adult; Biopsy; Colposcopy; Female; Humans; Linoleic Acid; Linoleic Acids; Linoleic Acids, Conjugated; Precancerous Conditions; Uterine Cervical Neoplasms; Vaginal Smears