Antioxidant status in pediatric acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL) and solid tumors: The impact of oxidative stress

Abstract

Both groups had impaired plasma antioxidant status. The higher oxidative stress of children with ALL is associated with the protocol for treating ALL which is much more aggressive and frequent than that of the solid tumors. The lower antioxidant status in plasma with ALL children is probably associated with increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) as indicated by the decrease of the antioxidant activity. This oxidative stress may lead to cell death or greater sensitivity of the tumor cell to therapy, with better outcome for pediatric patients with ALL.