Oxidative stress and anti-oxidants in pre and post-operative cases of breast carcinoma

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the existence of oxidative stress in the sera of patients with breast cancer and its effects on the consequent breast cancer. Materials and Methods: This study included 50 control volunteers, 50 patients with breast cancer, and 50 patients with post-operative breast cancer. Patients with pre-operative cancer were clinically and histopathologically diagnosed for breast carcinoma with stage 0, not having therapeutic history. The control 50 healthy female volunteers had the same socio-economic status, and no history of any cancer. After obtaining consent, venous blood was collected from the volunteers by vein puncture using a 10 mL sterile disposable syringe and needle. About 8 mL of blood was collected, 4 mL of which was poured into a heparinized bulb and 4 mL was allowed to clot. The levels of MDA, NO, GSH, and activities of RBC-SOD (in RBC lysate), NOS, copper and zinc GPx, and CAT, and vitamins A, C, and E metabolites were measured in the sera of each group. Results: The activities of RBC-SOD and the levels of MDA, NO, as well as the NOS were significantly higher in the sera of all patients with breast cancer as compared with the controls. However, the levels of GSH and vitamins A, C, and E, as well as the activities of copper and zinc GPx and CAT were decreased in patients with breast cancer when compared with the controls. Conclusion: The study provides further evidence for the presence of oxidative stress in the serum of patients with breast carcinoma. Patients with higher levels of MDA showed deficiencies of antioxidants and trace elements in the serum. A poor dietary antioxidant status and high oxidant levels are associated with the risk of breast cancer, thus suggesting that patients with breast cancer should take nutritive supplements to balance the antioxidant and oxidant levels for better outcomes.