Abstract B86: Antioxidant enzymes status in carcinoma cervix patients before and after radiotherapy.

Cancer is defined as a cellular growth due to uncontrolled cell division. This involves protein synthesis triggered by unusual acceleration of the process of translation, transcription and replication. The extent of free radical induced oxidative stress can be exacerbated by the decreased efficiency of antioxidant defense mechanisms. Low levels of essential antioxidants in the circulation have been found to be associated with an increased risk of cancer. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) are the major antioxidant enzymes present in the human body that protect against the oxygen toxicity. Oxidative stress may be a consequence of reduced efficiency of these endogenous antioxidants that may render carcinoma cervix patients more vulnerable to oxidative stress. There are reports suggesting a decrease in SOD and other antioxidant enzymes activities and increase in various markers of lipid peroxidation in carcinoma cervix patients.

We have undertaken this study to ascertain the possibility of oxidative damage in carcinoma cervix patients by measuring the cytosolic antioxidant enzymes viz., superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), Glutathione (GSH) and lipid peroxidation as well as lactate dehydrogenase levels in circulation of women with cervical carcinoma prior to radiotherapy and at the end of therapy (60~70 Gy tumor dose) in II, IIIA and IIIB and to compare our findings with age matched controls.

In the present study significant decrease (P<0.05) was observed in SOD, CAT, GSH and significantly high plasma lipid peroxide levels and lactate dehydrogenase levels were observed in carcinoma cervix patients when compared to the normal subjects.

Antioxidants play a significant role in the aetiology of human cancer.Result of the present study showed involvement of oxidative stress as one of the risk factors, which can be co-related with the severity of the disease,furthermore these biochemical tests has got excellent prognostic significance

Citation Information: Cancer Prev Res 2008;1(7 Suppl):B86.