Plasma antioxidant defense in actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma

Background Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, particularly cancer. There m ay be an inverse correlation between Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant def ense mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether certain p lasma antioxidants (ascorbic acid, alpha-tocopherol, total thiol groups, ce ruloplasmin, urate, albumin and erythrocyte glutathione) are altered in act inic keratosis (AK) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Methods Plasma samples and red blood cells (RBC) of 13 patients with AK, 12 with BCC and 16 healthy controls were investigated. Results Data analysis indicates significant decrease of ascorbic acid (P < 0.001), alpha-tocopherol (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001), total thiol groups (P < 0.001), ceruloplasmin (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05), and RBC glutathione (P < 0. 05) values in both AK and BCC groups compared to controls. Comparison of AK and BCC groups evidenced a significant decrease of alpha-tocopherol and RB C glutathione (P < 0.05) in BCC patient. Conclusion Plasma antioxidants are decreased in the AK and BCC, probably du e to the long exposure to UV irradiation which is one of the most important factors in the etiology of AK and BCC and alpha-tocopherol and RBC glutath ione (P < 0.05) are most altered in BCC. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.