Increased levels of cholesterol esters in glioma tissue and surrounding areas of human brain.

The proliferation of glioma cells requires cholesterol, which could be provided by synthesis within the cells or by uptake of cholesterol esters in particles of Low Density Lipoprotein (LDL). Cholesterol esters and cholesterol were therefore analysed in human glioma tissue, its surrounding areas and serum from 40 patients. The analyses revealed an increased concentration of cholesterol esters up to 100 times (0.1-10 mumol/g) in both tumour-tissue and surrounding areas compared with control material (< 0.1 mumol/g). The analyses also demonstrated that cholesterol esters in tumour tissue eminated mainly from serum. The cholesterol concentrations were significantly lower in tumour tissue compared with surrounding areas as expected. These results indicate that tumour cell proliferation utilises serum derived cholesterol esters presumably carried by LDL particles.