Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase and Lipid Profile in Breast Cancer

Background: Breast cancer is the most common cancer in women. Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 1 million women are diagnosed with breast cancer every year. Cancer of the breast is so widespread that it has become a genuine problem for public health. Aim: To analyse serum Lactate Dehydrogenase levels (preoperatively and postoperatively) and investigate the lipid profile in female breast cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Fasting blood samples were collected from 20 healthy controls and 20 histopathologically confirmed female breast cancer patients (Premenopausal and Postmenopausal Women) aged 25 to 80 years. Serum Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) levels and lipid profile were investigated preoperatively and serum LDH levels were estimated 21 days after the surgery. Results: There was a significant increase in preoperative serum LDH levels (P <0.001) and decrease in postoperative serum LDH levels (P <0.001) in breast cancer patients as compared to controls. The values of preoperative serum LDH were significantly higher in postmenopausal cases (P <0.001). Breast cancer patients had high BMI (P <0.0001), with increased total cholesterol (P <0.001), triglycerides (P <0.001), LDL-C (P <0.001), VLDL-C (P <0.001) and decreased HDL-C (P <0.01)as compared to controls which were statistically significant. Conclusion: The findings of this study suggest that serum LDH might prove to be a biomarker in early detection of the disease and also suggest an immense potential for LDH as a prognostic marker for breast cancer and confirm the association between BMI, Dyslipidaemia and breast cancer risk.