Leptin and adiponectin dynamics at patients with rectal neoplasm - Gender differences

Abstract

Background Numerous studies associate adipokines with colorectal malignancy, but few data deal with patients suffering exclusively of rectal carcinoma (RC). Aims We evaluated leptin and adiponectin levels in RC patients compared to healthy population and their dynamics after surgery. Material and methods Serum leptin and adiponectin were evaluated before surgery in 59 RC consecutive patients (38 males and 21 females), and in age and weight matched healthy controls. Measurements were repeated at 24, 72 hours and 7 days after surgery. Results Adipokine levels were higher in women. Controls had higher leptin (32.±4.34 vs 9.51±1.73 ng/ml in women and 11±2.66 vs 2.54±0.39 ng/ml in men, p = 0.00048 and 0.0032) and lower adiponectin (9±0.64 vs 11.85±1.02 μg/ml in women and 7.39±0.51 vs 8.5±0.62 μg/ml in men, p = 0.017 and 0.019) than RC patients. Surgery caused an increase of leptin from 5.11±0.8 to 18.7±2.42 ng/ml, p = 6.85 x 10¨ 8 , and a decrease of adiponectin from 9.71±0.58 to 7.87±0.47 μg/ml, p = 1.4 x 10¨ 10 for all RC patients and returned thereafter to the initial range at 7 days. Adipokines were correlated with body weight (BW). The significance of correlation persisted after surgery only in males, but disappeared in females. Adipokines were not modified by tumor position, presurgical chemoradiotherapy or surgical technique. Women with RC experiencing weight loss had higher adiponectin than women without weight modifications (p<0.05 at all time points). Conclusions Adipokine levels of patients with RC differ from the healthy population, possibly reflecting an adaptation to disease. Adipokine modifications after surgery may be related to acute surgical stress. Whether leptin and adiponectin directly interact is not clear. Women have higher adipokine levels, more so after significant weight loss, but the strength of their correlation with BW decreases after surgery. These data suggest gender differences in the adipokine profile of RC patients which may find clinical applications.

Circulating Adipocytokines and Insulin Like-Growth Factors and Their Modulation in Obesity-Associated Endometrial Cancer

“…While our study is the first to investigate the impact of endometrial cancer treatment on adipocytokines and IGFs, previous research on different cancer types has shown varying fluctuations in response to surgical stress. For instance, Florescu et al noted decreased adiponectin levels 24 h after rectal carcinoma surgery, returning to baseline within 7 days [88]. They suggested that surgical stress triggers an adaptive inflammatory process affecting adiponectin levels [88].…”

“…For instance, Florescu et al noted decreased adiponectin levels 24 h after rectal carcinoma surgery, returning to baseline within 7 days [88]. They suggested that surgical stress triggers an adaptive inflammatory process affecting adiponectin levels [88]. Additionally, Shi et al indicated a potential role of adipose tissue in mitigating the stress response during surgery through adiponectin release [89].…”