Effect of radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy on circulating antioxidant system of human uterine cervical carcinoma

Circulating lipid peroxide, antioxidant components and the activities of defense enzymes were estimated in uterine cervical carcinoma patients (before and after radiotherapy and radiotherapy combined chemotherapy) and compared with controls. Some of the antioxidant components such as glutathione, vitamin E and selenium are reduced in cervical cancer. The reduced levels of vitamin E and glutathione were normalized after treatment. Erythrocyte lipid peroxide (E-LPx) and erythrocyte membrane lipid peroxide (EM-LPx) levels were found to be increased in all the stages of uterine cervical carcinoma. The important antioxidant enzymes such as erythrocyte superoxide dismutase (E-SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), glutathione-S-transferase (GST) and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH) were found to be decreased in uterine cervical carcinoma. These altered biochemical parameters were reversed to normal, of course with varied degree after different mode of therapy. Significant normalization was observed in Type 11 chemoradiotherapy.