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

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