Pre and post radiotherapy serum oxidant/antioxidant status in breast cancer patients: Impact of age, BMI and clinical stage of the disease

Abstract Aim In this study the effects of radiation therapy (RT) on serum oxidant/antioxidant status in breast cancer patients and the impact of age, BMI and clinical stage of the disease on the aforementioned variables were investigated. Background RT that is used for cancer treatment is dependent on the production of reactive oxygen species. Materials and methods Eighty patients with breast cancer participated in this study and received RT at a dose of 50 Gy for 5 weeks. Blood samples were obtained in one day before and after the end of RT. Serum status of malondialdehyde (MDA), total antioxidant status (TAS), superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) were analyzed by spectrophotometry or ELISA and selenium (Se) level were analyzed by atomic absorption spectrometry. Paired t -test was used for comparing pre and post radiotherapy data. Results Before and after the radiotherapy, a significant increase in MDA level was observed, while a significant decrease in GPx activity, SOD, TAS and Se levels were found ( p < 0.05). The level of the CAT enzyme had no significant changes ( p = 0.568). The results showed some changes in the status of TAS, SOD and GPx which are associated with age, BMI and clinical stage of the disease. Conclusion It seems that RT would have the potential to cause variations in the status of antioxidant/oxidant system. Although, some changes in variables were observed by sub-classification of the age, BMI and the disease stage, but it seems that these changes are not necessarily dependent to them.