Evaluation of serum high-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels as a prognostic factor in gastric cancer patients

Background and Aim: Although there are some reports of an adverse effect of low serum high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C) levels on gastrointestinal cancers, the specific correlation between serum HDL‐C levels and gastric cancer remains unknown. Methods: Preoperative serum HDL‐C levels were retrospectively examined in 184 patients who had undergone gastrectomy. The patients who had undergone gastrectomy were divided into two groups: the normal‐HDL‐C group and the low‐HDL‐C group. We examined the characteristics and outcomes of these two groups. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to investigate the association between serum HDL‐C levels and gastric cancer. Results: There was no significant difference between the groups in terms of the progression of gastric cancer. In the low‐HDL‐C group, lymphatic and vascular invasion was significantly increased. The prognosis of the patients in the normal‐HDL‐C group was significantly better than those in the low‐HDL‐C group. Conclusions: In this study, a positive correlation between low preoperative serum HDL‐C levels and prognosis for gastric cancer was demonstrated. Serum HDL‐C level may be a clinical prognostic factor for gastric cancer patients.