The real role of prediagnostic high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol and the cancer risk: a concise review

Background In several observational and clinical studies, the association between serum cholesterol levels and cancer is still unsettled although serum total cholesterol has been associated with increased mortality from cancer. Moreover, the importance of abnormal levels of serum lipid components as the main features of dyslipidemia and the risk of individual cancers is unclear. The prevalence of dyslipidemia is increasing worldwide but, the precise aetiology of the link between risk of cancer and the behaviour of lipid profile, prior diagnosis, has yet to be determinated. Low levels of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL) at baseline of many of the studies analyzed has to be taken into account, and continued low levels of HDL without explanation should be considered by clinicians. Aims The main aim of this review was to undertake the assessment of the most recent studies implying the lipid profile and cancer risk, and focused on low HDL levels at baseline and follow up, and also analyzing this behaviour on the different cancer types. Material and Methods A literature search was performed to identify publications. The most recent prospective and case-control studies with multivariate Cox models were analyzed and also were considered some recent meta-analyses. Results and Conclusions The findings exposed in this review suggest that the association with low HDL levels at baseline of different studies of cancer risk is shared among many types of cancer, and it is mainly linked to obesity and inflammation, suggesting a common pathway.