Plasma antioxidant defense in actinic keratosis and basal cell carcinoma

Background Reactive oxygen species and lipid peroxides have been implicated in the pathogenesis of a variety of diseases, particularly cancer. There may be an inverse correlation between lipid peroxidation and antioxidant defense mechanisms. The aim of this study was to investigate whether certain plasma antioxidants (ascorbic acid, α‐tocopherol, total thiol groups, ceruloplasmin, urate, albumin and erythrocyte glutathione) are altered in actinic keratosis (AK) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC). Methods Plasma samples and red blood cells (RBC) of 13 patients with AK, 12 with BCC and 16 healthy controls were investigated. Results Data analysis indicates significant decrease of ascorbic acid (P < 0.001), α‐tocopherol (P < 0.05 and P < 0.001), total thiol groups (P < 0.001), ceruloplasmin (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05), and RBC glutathione (P < 0.05) values in both AK and BCC groups compared to controls. Comparison of AK and BCC groups evidenced a significant decrease of α‐tocopherol and RBC glutathione (P < 0.05) in BCC patient. Conclusion Plasma antioxidants are decreased in the AK and BCC, probably due to the long exposure to UV irradiation which is one of the most important factors in the etiology of AK and BCC and α‐tocopherol and RBC glutathione (P < 0.05) are most altered in BCC.