Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in human cervical carcinoma

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), represented by superoxide, hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals, have been implicated in many diseases including can cer. ROS have been known to play an important role in the initiation and pr omotion of multistep carcinogenesis. The cellular antioxidants play a cruci al role in protection against neoplastic disease. However, very little is k nown about the antioxidant defense in cervical carcinoma. This is addressed in the present study. Lipid peroxides, glutathione content and the activit ies of antioxidant enzymes, together with vitamin C and E content, were est imated in patients who had carcinoma of the cervix, and the values were com pared with those of normal women. The results showed a remarkable reduction in the content of glutathione, vitamin E and C. Activities of glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase were also reduced in cervical cancer co mpared to normal controls (P < 0.001). This reduction was more marked in la te stages (III, IV) than in early stages (I, II) (P<0.001). Glutathione was reduced more in poorly differentiated tumors (grade III) than in well and moderately differentiated ones (grade I, II) (P < 0.05). Levels of lipid pe roxides were found to be significantly higher in malignant than in normal t issue samples and their levels were correlated with advanced clinical stage (P<0.001). Our results suggest impaired antioxidant status in carcinoma of the cervix. This impairment is related to tumor progression.