Endocrine Abstracts

Adipose tissue performs an important endocrine role, mediated by hormones (adipocytokines) which are specifically secreted by the adipocytes. Epidemiological data consistently show an association between weight gain and the risk of colorectal cancer in adults.This observation led to the evaluation of a possible linking role of adipocytokines with cancer pathogenesis. There are several studies that associate adipocytokines with colorectal malignancy, but few data about patients suffering exclusively of rectal carcinoma. We evaluated leptin and adiponectin levels in patients with rectal cancer (RC) compared to healthy population and their dynamics after surgery. Serum leptin and adiponectin were measured in 59 patients (38 males and 21 females) before surgery and in age and weight matched healthy controls. Measurements were repeated at 24, 72 hours and 7 days after surgery. Adipokine levels were higher in women. Controls had higher leptin and lower adiponectin than RC patients. Surgery caused an increase of leptin and a decrease of adiponectin for all RC patients and returned to the initial range at 7 days. Adipokines were correlated with body weight. The significance of correlation persisted after surgery only in males, but disappeared in females. Adipokines were not modified by tumor position, surgical technique or presurgical chemoradiotherapy. Adipokine levels of patients with RC differ from the healthy population, possibly reflecting an adaptation to disease. Adipokine modifications after surgery may be related to acute surgical stress. Women have higher adipokine levels, more so after significant weight loss, but the strength of their correlation with BW decreases after surgery. These data suggest gender differences in the adipokine profile of RC patients which may find clinical applications.