The influence of nutritional status and disease on adiponectin and TNF-α; levels in colorectal cancer patients.

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between adiponectin and tumor necrosis factor-α;(TNF-α;) serum levels in colorectal cancer (CRC) patients and compare these levels to clinical stage and nutritional status.

Methods: A total of 79 patients were enrolled in the study (39 with CRC and 40 in the control). Nutritional status was assessed by Patient-Generated Subjective Global Assessment (PG-SGA), body mass index (BMI), and phase angle (PhA). Adiponectin and TNF-α;serum concentrations were determined using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.

Results: Serum adiponectin levels were higher among CRC patients (p = 0.001). TNF-α;serum levels were not significantly different between the groups, but patients with stage III or IV CRC had higher levels of TNF-α;than those with lower stage disease (p = 0.037). The three tools used for the assessment of nutritional status (BMI, PhA, and PG-SGA) demonstrated that patients with a more severe nutritional deficit had higher adipocytokine levels, although these differences were significant only to TNF- , when distributed PhA in tertiles.

Conclusions: Adiponectin levels were higher among CRC patients. Although TNF-α;serum levels from CRC patients did not differ significantly to the control group, CRC patients with stage III or IV had higher levels compared to those with stage I and II tumors. Nutritional status, as determined by BMI, PhA, and PG-SGA, demonstrated that patients with a greatest nutritional deficit, had higher levels of adipocytokines; however, these differences were significant only for TNF-, when distributed PhA in tertiles.