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.