Recent evidence suggests that lipid composition in cancer tissues may undergo multiple alterations. However, no comprehensive analysis of various lipid groups in colorectal cancer (CRC) tissue has been conducted thus far. To address the problem in question, we determined the contents of triacylglycerols (TG), an energetic substrate, various lipids necessary for cell membrane formation, among them phospholipids (phosphatidylcholine, phosphatidylethanolamine), sphingolipids (sphingomyelin) and cholesterol (free, esterified and total), and fatty acids included in complex lipids. ¹H-nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H-NMR) and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) were used to analyze the lipid composition of colon cancer tissue and normal large intestinal mucosa from 25 patients. Compared with normal tissue, cancer tissues had significantly lower TG content, along with elevated levels of phospholipids, sphingomyelin, and cholesterol. Moreover, the content of oleic acid, the main component of TG, was decreased in cancer tissues, whereas the levels of saturated fatty acids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which are principal components of polar lipids, were elevated. These lipidome rearrangements were associated with the overexpression of genes associated with fatty acid oxidation, and the synthesis of phospholipids and cholesterol. These findings suggest that reprogramming of lipid metabolism might occur in CRC tissue, with a shift towards increased utilization of TG for energy production and enhanced synthesis of membrane lipids, necessary for the rapid proliferation of cancer cells.

Objectives Statins act by inhibiting 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A reductase and are an important drug class in the treatment of lipid disorders. They lower cholesterol levels and modulate cardiovascular disease risk in both primary and secondary prevention. In addition, some studies have shown that statins may have an effect on colorectal cancer development and treatment. Our objective is to summarize published studies on the effect of statins on colorectal carcinogenesis. Methods A systematic review of the PubMed and Cochrane databases was performed to identify studies published between April 2010 and April 2018 that investigated the association between statin use and colorectal cancer incidence, mortality, and treatment. Results Overall, 126 articles were identified with our search strategy. Based on the eligibility criteria, 69 studies were excluded from the review process. In vitro and animal studies have shown a potential chemopreventive effect of statins and their efficacy in adjuvant therapy of colorectal cancer. The anticarcinogenic effect on cancer risk in human studies was heterogeneous. Some studies reported better overall and cancer specific survival rates in patients using statins before and during colorectal cancer treatment. Statins also show a potential role in chemoprevention of colorectal cancer in patients with inflammatory bowel disease. Conclusions Accumulating evidence suggests that statins may have a role in colorectal cancer prevention and treatment. Further studies are necessary to define the associations between individual statin characteristics, their doses and colorectal cancer.

Obesity is an escalating problem in all age groups and it is observed to be more common in females than males. About 25% of women meet the criteria of obesity and one-third of them are in the reproductive age. Because morbid obesity requiring surgical treatment is observed with increasing frequency, surgeons and gynecologists are undergoing new challenges. It is not only a matter of women’s health and their quality of life but also proper development of the fetus, which should be a concern during bariatric treatment. Therefore complex perinatal care has to be provided for morbid obesity patients. The paper reviews pregnancy and fertility issues in bariatric surgery patients.