The Role Of Oxidative Stress And The
Effect Of Radiotherapy On The Plasma
Oxidant-Antioxidant Status In Head And
Neck Cancer
249-251
Correspondence
Dr. Malathi M., Professor of Biochemistry, Father Muller Medical
College and Hospital, Mangalore-575002; Karnataka, India.
E-mail : malathi.mala@hotmail.com
Phone : 0824 2238255, 9480229866.
Objectives: The present study was aimed to assess the oxidantantioxidant status in head and neck cancer patients before and after radiotherapy.
Methods: The subjects comprised of patients who had visited the Oncology Department and were diagnosed of head and neck cancer. The plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), the marker of lipid peroxidation, and the antioxidants, superoxide dismutase (SOD), vitamin A, vitamin C and ceruloplasmin, were assayed before and after radiotherapy, in comparison to the healthy controls.
Results: The plasma levels of MDA were higher and the levels of SOD, vitamin A, vitamin C and ceruloplasmin were lower inthe head and neck cancer patients as compared to those in the healthy controls. These parameters showed significant changes after radiotherapy, as indicated by a lower level of MDA and higher levels of SOD, vitamin A, vitamin C and ceruloplasmin in the plasma of the cancer patients after radiotherapy, as compared to the plasma levels before radiotherapy. All the results were statistically significant (P < 0.001).
Conclusions: Radiotherapy caused a reduction in the lipid peroxidation and an improvement in the antioxidant status of the head and neck cancer patients.