Concentration of selected adipokines and osteopontin in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma and neoplasms located in the facial skeleton are not quite common. It is estimated to affect about 1 in 100,000 people, with slightly greater intensity in Southeast China, North Africa and Middle East. So far, little is known about how the concentration of adipokines is shaped in people suffering from these cancers. The aim of the study was to estimate the level of selected adipokines (leptin, omentin-1) and osteopontin in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma just prior to treatment with ionizing radiation.
The test material was serum obtained from venous blood from the test group (n = 20) and the healthy control group (n = 20). The concentration of leptin, omentin-1 and osteopontin was measured by enzyme immunoassays (ELISA).
The statistical analysis of the obtained results shows significant differences in the levels of the examined parameters between the groups. Leptin levels were significantly lower in nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients compared to healthy subjects. On the other hand, omentin-1 and osteopontin levels were lower in the control group.
Due to the low prevalence of the described neoplasms, not much is known about the role of adipokines in the pathogenesis and course of nasopharyngeal carcinoma and neoplasms located in the facial skeleton. Publications indicate that the level of osteopontin may be related to the rate of disease development and the degree of malignancy. Adipokines may become useful markers for assessing the risk of developing and severity of the disease.