Glutathione, glutathione-dependent enzymes and antioxidant status in gastric carcinoma patients

Abstract

Oxidative stress plays an important role in malignant transformation and is postulated to be associated with increased lipid peroxidation. The aim of this study was to determine the extent of lipid peroxidation with the antioxidant status in patients with gastric cancer. The study population consisted of fifty newly diagnosed gastric cancer patients and an equal number of age- and sex-matched healthy control subjects. Lipid peroxidation as evidenced by thiobarbutric acid reactive substances (TBARS), and also the status of enzymatic (superoxide dismutase - SOD, catalase - CAT, glutathione peroxidase - GPx, glutathione reductase - GR, glutathione S-transferase - GST) and non-enzymatic (reduced glutathione - GSH) antioxidants, were determined. Enhanced lipid peroxidation with concomitant depletion of antioxidants was observed in gastric cancer patients as compared to healthy control subjects. The present study highlights the occurrence of lipid peroxidation and possible breakdown of antioxidant status in patients with gastric carcinoma.