Lipid peroxidation and antioxidant status in patients with breast cancer.

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the status of lipid peroxidation and antioxidants as biomarkers in human plasma. METHODS: The extent of lipid peroxidation as evidenced by the formation of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and conjugated dienes (CD) as well as the status of the antioxidants superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and glutathione S-transferase (GST) in serum samples of 40 breast cancer patients in and around Coimbatore, India, were studied. Controls consisted of members of the public with no previous history of breast cancer or other cancer-related diseases. RESULTS: The plasma samples of the breast cancer patients showed enhanced level of lipid peroxidation when compared to the corresponding controls. This was accompanied by a significant elevation in both enzymic and non-enzymic antioxidants. CONCLUSION: These findings indicate the significant increase in lipid peroxidation as evidenced by the level of TBARS and antioxidant status such as elevated SOD, CAT, GPx, GSH and GST in samples from breast cancer patients compared to controls.