Family history and gastric carcinoma: The role of glutathione peroxidase

Background: The risk of gastric carcinoma is increased in persons with a po sitive family history of the disease, Previous findings suggest that free r adicals are involved in both the initiation and promotion of carcinogenesis . Objective: The aim of this study was to assess whether alterations in the a ntioxidant defense system of gastric mucosal cells in patients with gastric carcinoma are related to a positive family history. Methods: Glutathione peroxidase activity, oxidized glutathione, total gluta thione, and malondialdehyde levels were assayed in patients with gastric ca rcinoma with and without a family history of the disease. A control group c onsisted of healthy volunteers. Results: The study enrolled 65 patients with gastric carcinoma: 35 with and 30 without a family history of the disease, as well as 30 control subjects . The level of glutathione peroxidase activity in tu mor-free tissue sample s from patients with a family history of gastric carcinoma was higher than in samples from those without such family history. Glutathione peroxidase a ctivity was also significantly higher in neoplastic than in tumor-free tiss ue. There was no significant difference in glutathione peroxidase activity between neoplastic tissue samples taken from patients with and without a po sitive family history. Conclusions: The results appear to support the existence of an enzymatic im balance caused by cellular initiation in patients with a family history of gastric carcinoma. This imbalance may lead to an altered response to free r adical oxygen species and a consequent progressive increase in biologic dam age.