Erythrocyte membrane stearic and oleic acid ratios in breast cancer.

A case control study has been conducted to determine the value of stearic/oleic acid ratios in the erythrocyte membranes of women at the time of presentation with breast cancer. No difference was found between the stearic/oleic acid ratio of cases and that of controls with benign breast condition or normal volunteers. Furthermore, within clinical stages of breast cancer, no differences were detected. This ratio does not appear to be of value as a marker of malignancy, or of tumour burden.