Cholesterol Metabolism in Patients with Gastric Cancer

Gastric cancer is one of the leading causes of death in the world among cancer diseases. Frequently, the asymptomatic course of the disease and the deficit in screening are the cause of late diagnosis. The implication of this is a drastic reduction in the effectiveness of treatment due to the presence of distant metastases. The cholesterol metabolism disorders have been observed in patients with gastric cancer for years. There are significant changes in the level of lipid parameters that can be attributed to prognostic significance in gastric cancer. Alignment of cholesterol metabolism disorders can have a positive effect on the treatment, and learning about its mechanisms may allow to set new therapeutic goals. This review article reviews literature data on lipid profile in patients with gastric cancer prior to surgery and after gastrectomy. The influence of changes in cholesterol metabolism on the therapy and course of the disease was also discussed. Key words: Cholesterol; Metabolism; Gastric Cance