Impact of therapeutic intervention on oxidants and antioxidants status in patients with ovarian malignancy

The present study was undertaken in patients of ovarian malignancy to evaluate the status of oxidative stress and antioxidant defence mechanisms undergoing chemotherapy treatment. Circulating plasma lipid peroxides as malondialdehyde [MDA] and activities of the defensive enzymes (Superoxide Dismutase [SOD] and Catalase [CAT]) were measured. Blood samples were collected before treatment and within 24 hours and six weeks after polychemotherapy consisting of doxorubicin, cisplatin and cyclophashamide. Material and methods: Newly diagnosed women with ovarian carcinoma (N=30), 30-60 years of age and agematched clinically healthy women (N=20) were included in the present study. Circulating plasma lipid peroxides were quantified according to the method of Okhawa et al (1979) with modifications as described by Sanacka et al (1996) using thiolbarbuturic acid. Activities of the defensive enzymes SOD and CAT were evaluated by the method of McCord and Fridovin (1969) and Aebi and Suter (1974) respectively. Result: MDA level was found to be markedly elevated at 24 hours after therapy which decreased significantly (p<0.001) after six weeks of chemotherapy. CAT and SOD activities were significantly lower at 24 hours which significantly increased (P<0.001) after six weeks of polychemotherapy. Conclusion: Fall in MDA and rise in the activities of antioxidants SOD and CAT after six weeks of chemotherapy indicate long term protective and curative effect of above treatment modalities mediated through antioxidant defence processes. Key word: Plasma Malondialdyhyde (MDA), Superoxide Dismutase (SOD), Catalase (CAT), Ovarian Carcinoma, Polychemotherapy. Accepted April 02 2011