Oxidative stress in cervical cancer and its response to chemoradiation.

Background and objectives: Cervical cancer (CaCx) is one of the leading cause of cancer-related death among women worldwide, with the great social and economic burden. Diagnosis in early stages can decrease mortality and morbidity rates. This study was conducted to evaluate the status of serum total antioxidant capacity (TAC), Malondialdehyde (MDA) and copper level among the cervical cancer patients to find out the level of oxidative stress and effect of chemoradiation on it.

Methodology: Histopathologically proved cases of CaCx (n=50) visiting the Department of Oncology & Gynaecology and age-matched healthy females (n=50) were selected for the study. Serum TAC, MDA, and copper were estimated in both the study groups. Effect of chemoradiation on these was estimated in CaCx patients.

Results: The mean ± SD age of patients was 43.98 ± 6.38 years whereas as that of control was 31.56±6.84 years. The mean serum copper level and MDA in cases was significantly raised as compared to controls; while as the mean serum TAC level in cases was reduced as compared to controls. After chemoradiation, a significant increase and a decrease in TAC and MDA respectively, after chemoradiotherapy, whereas the changes in the levels of copper were insignificant.

Conclusion: These results suggest that the patients with cervical cancer were in oxidative stress as the oxidative parameters in serum (copper, MDA) were increased and the defensive TAC was decreased in cervical cancer patients and chemo-radiotherapy improved their anti-oxidant capacity. Further studies are needed to evaluate the concurrent use of antioxidants with chemoradiotherapy for improving the disease prognosis.