STUDY OF LIPID PEROXIDATION, ANTIOXIDANT STATUS, LIPID PROFILE AND HOMOCYSTEINE LEVELS IN BREAST CANCER

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: Breast cancer is the commonest malignancy in women in India and western countries. Increased production of oxygen free radicals exhaust the antioxidant levels in the body leading to the development of oxidative stress which results in the production of cancer. The reason for alteration of lipid profile and homocysteine levels in breast cancer is not clearly understood. The aim of our present study is to evaluate the role of oxidative stress and also the status of serum lipid profile and homocysteine levels in breast cancer patients. METHODS: The role of oxidative stress in breast cancer patients were evaluated by estimating the levels of lipid peroxidation assessing plasma Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels and antioxidant status by reduced glutathione (GSH), Vitamin-C in blood. We also tried to assess lipid profile by estimating Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides, HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and we also assessed total homocysteine levels. For this, we have taken 50 cases of breast cancer patients compared with 50 age matched control women. RESULTS: There were significant increase in the levels of MDA and significant decreases in the levels of antioxidants like GSH and Vitamin-C in breast cancer patients when compared with controls. There were also significant increase in the levels of Serum total cholesterol, triglycerides and LDL cholesterol and no statistical significant difference was observed with HDL cholesterol in cases when compared with controls. There was significant increase in the levels of homocysteine levels in cases when compared with controls. CONCLUSION: Our results indicate that oxidative stress and alterations in lipid profile and homocysteine levels are associated with the development of breast cancer and the need for modification of lifestyle for the reduction of breast cancer development.