Serum antioxidant and cholesterol levels in patients with different types of cancer

Serum antioxidant (urate, alpha -tocopherol) activity and cholesterol conce ntration in 142 patients of Indian and rab (Kuwaitis and other Arabs) origi n with different types of cancer (breast, colon, stomach, thyroid, oral, re ctal, pancreatic, and renal) were compared to 100 age- and sex-matched cont rol subjects. Values were expressed as medians (interquartile range). Urate concentration was significantly decreased in male patients compared to mal e controls (P < 0.0001) and in female patients and female breast cancer cas es compared to female controls; P< 0.0001 and P= 0.001, respectively. alpha -Tocopherol concentration decreased significantly in total cancer, stomach , colon, rectal, and breast cancer cases than the controls; P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.012, and P = 0.022, respectively. Cholesterol co ncentration decreased significantly in stomach, oral, colon, and total canc er cases compared to the controls; P < 0.0001, P < 0.0001, P = 0.002, and P = 0.012, respectively. Among controls, females had significantly (P < 0.00 01) lower concentrations of a-tocopherol than males. Among patients, choles terol, urate, and alpha -tocopherol concentrations decreased significantly in smokers than in nonsmokers; P < 0.0001, P = 0.004, and P = 0.047, respec tively. Generally, changes in <alpha>-tocopherol/cholesterol ratios mimicke d changes in alpha -tocopherol concentration. Concentrations of all paramet ers decreased significantly in male patients compared to male controls. Age was positively associated with all three analytes with respect to the cont rols. alpha -Tocopherol correlated with cholesterol in cancer patients (r = 0.367; P < 0.0001) and with urate in the controls (r = 0.342; P < 0.0001). The data suggest cancer-related diminished synthesis of cholesterol and, g enerally, a greater antioxidant burden for alpha -tocopherol than urate in cancer-generated oxidative stress. The increased incidence of pancreatic ca ncer in Kuwaitis warrants further study. J. Clin. Lab. Anal. 15:324-330, 20 01. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.