Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in breast and lung cancer patients

Objective: To measure the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipi d peroxidation, in patients with breast and lung cancer. Method: Analysis of plasma MDA, and serum uric acid, albumin, cholesterol a nd triglycerides in 26 breast and 12 lung cancer patients and 41 healthy co ntrols. The effects of age, body mass index (BMI), and menopausal status on plasma MDA were evaluated in the 26 patients with breast cancer. Results: Plasma MDA levels in cancer patients were significantly higher tha n those in controls (P < 0001). Average MDA levels were 6.33 <mu>mol/L in b reast cancer patients and 5.87 mu mol/L in lung cancer patients. There was no correlation between MDA and triglyceride levels in either controls or ca ses. There was no correlation between MDA and cholesterol levels in patient s with breast cancer, but there was a correlation in patients with lung can cer. Albumin levels did not differ significantly between controls and cases (P < 0.05), but uric acid levels in breast cancer patients were significan tly higher than those of controls (P < 0.01). Conclusion: The results of this study provide further evidence of the relat ionship between lipid peroxidation and cancer and should contribute to the interpretation of epidemiological studies in this area and the planning of future research.