Evaluation of biomarkers of oxidative stress and female reproductive hormones in post menopausal women with breast cancer in Southern Nigeria

Background: Reproductive hormones and reactive oxygen species produced by either hormonal or aerobic metabolism have been implicated in carcinogenesis of the breast and disease progression. Perturbations in the homeostasis of female reproductive hormones and oxidative stress indices in breast cancer (BCa) could be used for monitoring disease prognosis. Objectives: The aim of this study was to assess levels of some biomarkers of oxidative stress and female reproductive hormones in postmenopausal women with BCa at different stages. Methods: Reduced glutathione (GSH), total antioxidant capacity (TAC), total plasma peroxides (TPP), nitric oxide (NO), malondialdehyde (MDA), estradiol (E2), and prolactin (PRL) levels were determined in 50 post-menopausal women with BCa (stages II-IV) and 50 women without BCa (controls) by colorimetry and ELISA methods. Oxidative stress and body mass indices (OSI &BMI) and clinical history were obtained. Results: Post-menopausal women with BCa had significantly higher BMI (26.60 ± 5.17 vs 22.73 ± 1.21 kg/m2, P=