Medknow Publications on behalf of the Association of Radiation Oncologists of India (AROI)
Abstract
Background: Oral cancer is the leading malignancy in India. Nitric
oxide and antioxidant enzymes play an important role in etiology of
oral cancer. Therefore, the present study evaluates nitric oxide and
antioxidant enzyme levels in healthy individual without tobacco habits
(NHT, N=30) and healthy individuals with tobacco habits (WHT, n=90),
patients with oral precancers (OPC, n=15) and oral cancer patients
(n=126). Materials and Methods: Blood samples were collected from the
subjects. NO 2 +NO 3 (nitrite+nitrate), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and
catalase levels were estimated using highly specific
spectrophotometeric methods. Statistical analysis was done by SPSS
statistical software version 10. Results: Mean plasma NO 2 +NO 3 levels
were elevated in patients with OPC and oral cancer patients as compared
to the controls. Mean activities of erythrocyte SOD and catalase were
higher in WHT than NHT. Erythrocyte SOD and catalase levels were higher
in WHT and patients with OPC as compared to NHT. The erythrocyte SOD
and catalase activities were lower in oral cancer patients than
patients with OPC. The erythrocyte SOD activity was higher in advanced
oral cancer than the early disease. Erythrocyte catalase activity was
lower in poorly differentiated tumors than well and moderately
differentiated tumors. Pearson\u2032s correlation analysis revealed
that alterations in plasma NO 2 +NO 3 levels were negatively associated
with changes in erythrocyte SOD activities. Conclusion: The data
revealed that the alterations in antioxidant activities were associated
with production of nitric oxide in oral cancer, which may have
significant role in oral carcinogenesis