Oxidative Stress and Conventional Risk Factors in Breast Carcinogenesis a Case Control Study

Abstract

Although a number of risk factors have been identified in the causation of carcinoma breast but the mechanisms by which they increase the risk of the disease are still not clear. Oxidative Stress resulting from an imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants seems to play an important role in human breast carcinogenesis. The present study was carried out with an objective to confirm the presence of oxidative stress in patients suffering from carcinoma breast and to prove that oxidative stress has a central role and is the ultimate risk factor of all the risk factors. The study comprised 50 clinically and histopathologically proven breast cancer patients in the age range of 25-55 years. The biochemical estimations carried out in the study were serum Superoxide dismutase (SOD), Malondialdehyde (MDA), and Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) levels. The values obtained were compared with age matched equal number of healthy control female subjects from the same population. Significantly higher levels of pro oxidant MDA (p‹0.001) and anti oxidant-SOD enzyme levels (p‹0.001) were found in the patients group in comparison to control subjects, signifying the presence of oxidative imbalance. Variations in these parameters were also observed in all etiologically predisposed subjects such as advancing age, early menarche, and premenopausal subjects, multiparous and in the women taking oral contraceptive pills or hormone replacement therapy. Serum Alkaline Phosphatase was found to be significantly higher amongst patients in the advanced state indicating the hepatic involvement. Oxidative stress is definitely a cause for the development and the progression of breast carcinogenesis. Simple, economical and easy to perform investigations like serum SOD, MDA and Alkaline phosphatase estimations can detect the predisposition, the presence and the severity of breast carcinogenesis. Early intervention in the form of antioxidants can prevent the onset and can even block the progression of carcinoma breast to ensure a better quality of life.