Erythrocyte membrane fatty acid profile in patients with primary carcinoma of the gallbladder.

Erythrocyte fatty acids were determined in patients with gall stones and carcinoma of the gallbladder. Significantly low levels of myristic acid (P < 0.01) and stearic acid (P < 0.001) and significantly high levels of palmitoleic acid (P < 0.05) and oleic acid (P < 0.01) were observed in cancer patients. Arachidonic and linolenic acid were significantly high in gallstone patients, but there was no significant difference in the lauric acid and palmitic acid levels. Thus an altered lipid metabolism in cancer patients suggest existence of a possible association between gallstones, fatty acids, and carcinoma of the gallbladder.