Oxidant and antioxidant status in larynx squamous cell carcinomas

In this study we reviewed 20 patients with laryngeal squamous cell car-cine ma to evaluate the oxidant and antioxidant status on tissue level. Superoxi de Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase levels, two important antioxidant enzymes, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a valuable index of lipid peroxidation, w ere compared in cancerous and normal tissues of the patients. In cancerous tissue SOD activities were significantly lower than in the normal tissue, w hile there was no significant difference in MDA levels and Catalase activit ies. It was also observed that SOD activities significantly decreased as th e histopathologic malignancy grades increased in cancerous tissue. These ch anges in oxidant and antioxidant status in carcinomatous tissue of the lary nx are considered to be of great interest.