Alteration of urinary profiles of endogenous steroids and polyunsaturated fatty acids in thyroid cancer

Abstract

To explore the possible involvement of a relationship between steroids and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in thyroid cancer, we studied the concentration levels of 21 endogenous urinary androgens and glucocorticoids, and 6 urinary PUFAs in female patients with thyroid cancer (n = 29, 49.4 +/- 12.6 years) and in normal female subjects (n = 20, 48.3 +/- 11.9 years). Using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry in selected ion-monitoring mode, we performed quantification of androgens, glucocorticoids, and PUFAs. In the case of the urinary androgens and the glucocorticoids, the concentration of androgens was not altered between patients with thyroid cancer and normal controls. However, the concentration of glucocorticoid significantly decreased in patients with thyroid cancer compared to that of the normal controls. Also, in case of urinary PUFAs, the precursor of cholesterol, the concentration of linoleic acid, arachidonic acid, and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) were decreased in patient with thyroid cancer (P < 0.05). In this results, it can be concluded that the glucocorticoids milieu induced from the decreasing urinary concentration of DHA may exert an important influence upon thyroid cancer. Consequently, the change of urinary glucocorticoids concentration may play an important role in thyroid cancer. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.