Fatty acid composition of the erythrocyte membrane and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients

• Published in: Alimentary Pharmacology & Therapeutics (Suppl) Vol. 52; no. 9; pp. 1503 - 1515
• Main Authors: Mouillot, Thomas, Rizk, Maud, Pais de Barros, Jean‐Paul, Gilloteau, Adrien, Busson, Amandine, Bernard‐Chabert, Brigitte, Thiefin, Gérard, Barraud, Hélène, Bronowicki, Jean‐Pierre, Richou, Carine, Di Martino, Vincent, Doffoel, Michel, Minello, Anne, Latournerie, Marianne, Jouve, Jean‐Louis, Brondel, Laurent, Brindisi, Marie‐Claude, Petit, Jean‐Michel, Hillon, Patrick, Cottet, Vanessa
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: England Wiley Subscription Services, Inc 01.11.2020
• Subjects: Acids; Aged; Biomarkers - blood; Cancer; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - blood; Carcinoma, Hepatocellular - epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Cirrhosis; Endocrinology and metabolism; Erythrocyte Membrane - chemistry; Fatty acid composition; Fatty acids; Fatty Acids - blood; Female; Food and Nutrition; Gas chromatography; Hepatocellular carcinoma; Human health and pathology; Humans; Life Sciences; Liver cancer; Liver cirrhosis; Liver Cirrhosis - blood; Liver Cirrhosis - epidemiology; Liver Neoplasms - blood; Liver Neoplasms - epidemiology; Male; Membranes; Metabolism; Middle Aged; Odds Ratio; Phospholipids; Phospholipids - blood; Risk Factors
• ISSN: 0269-2813; 1365-2036; 0953-0673; 1365-2036
• DOI: 10.1111/apt.16022

Summary Background Disturbances in fatty acid (FA) metabolism have been reported in cirrhosis, but the role of FAs in the development of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is still unclear. Biomarkers are a promising means to explore the associations between exogenous intake or endogenous production of FAs and cancer risk. Aim To estimate the relationship between fatty acid content in erythrocyte membranes and HCC risk in cirrhotic patients Methods The “CiRCE” case‐control study recruited cirrhotic patients from six French hospitals between 2008 and 2012. Cases were cirrhotic patients with HCC (n = 349); controls were cirrhotic patients without HCC at inclusion (n = 550). FA composition of phospholipids in erythrocyte membranes was determined by high performance gas chromatography. Odds ratios for HCC risk according to FA concentrations were estimated with multivariable logistic regression. Results HCC patients were older and more often men (P < 0.001). In both groups, saturated FAs represented more than 39% of all FAs in erythrocyte membranes, mono‐unsaturated FAs around 14%, and polyunsaturated FAs around 46%. High levels of C15:0 + C17:0, C20:1 n‐9, C18:2 n‐6 and C20:2 n‐6 were associated with higher risk of HCC. The levels of C18:0 and C20:4 n‐6 were lower in HCC cases than in controls. Conclusions The FA composition of erythrocyte membranes differed according to the presence of HCC with higher levels of saturated FAs, linoleic and eicosadienoic acids, and lower levels of stearic and arachidonic acids. These alterations may reflect particular dietary patterns and/or altered FA metabolism. Further investigations are warranted.