Evaluation of antioxidant enzyme activity in doxorubicin treated breast cancer patients in Iraq: A molecular and cytotoxic study

Abstract

BackgroundOne of the main anthracycline antibiotics is doxorubicin which has been used as an efficient antitumor drug. Doxorubicin is being used in the therapy of different cancers like, breast cancers, cervical cancers, and others. MethodsIn this research, we examined the reactive oxygen species and antioxidant enzymes of patients with breast cancer treated with doxorubicin. Ninety peripheral blood samples were collected from diagnosed breast cancer patients. Samples were divided into two groups, 30 were newly diagnosed and 60 were already treated with doxorubicin. ResultsThe activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase was significantly decreased in newly diagnosed subjects as compared with healthy controls. Patients under doxorubicin treatment revealed an increased mean level of catalase and glutathione peroxidase activity were higher than that of healthy control. The level of superoxide dismutase in newly diagnosed patients showed a significant decrease comparing with the control group. Treatment with doxorubicin markedly improved superoxide dismutase activity with no significant differences compared with control group. Also, cell viability of MCF-7 cells treated with doxorubicin was reduced in a dose-dependent manner with a maximum inhibition rate. MCF-7 cells treated with doxorubicin was observed with significant upregulation of superoxide dismutase (1.9-fold) and glutathione peroxidase (2.22-fold) gene compared with untreated cells. On the other hand, a minor increase in catalase gene expression (1.6-fold increase) was recorded in doxorubicin treated cells with no significant differences (p = 0.5301) comparing with non-treated cells. Doxorubicin treatment exhibited 72.34% increasing in reactive oxygen species generation. ConclusionsWe can conclude that breast cancer patients exhibited a significant reduction in the level of superoxide dismutase, while the levels of both catalase and glutathione peroxidase were significantly increased in breast cancer patients in comparison to healthy control.