A preliminary evaluation of oxidative stress in patients with gastric cancer before chemotherapy

Abstract

Introduction Background: Due to an imbalanced redox status, cancer cells generate intrinsically higher levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS), compared to normal cells. Targeting ROS is an important therapeutic strategy for cancer as exemplified by cancer drugs, which induce ROS-dependent synergistic cytotoxicity in gastric cancer cells. The present study was designed to assess the level of selected oxidative stress biomarkers in blood plasma, derived from gastric cancer patients. Material and methods The study included the assessment of the oxidative/nitrative biomarkers in blood plasma isolated form 51gastric (adenocarcinoma) cancer patients, compared to a control group of 32 healthy volunteers. Oxidative stress was evaluated using a panel of biomarkers such as plasma protein thiol groups and 3-nitrotyrosine levels as well as indicators of plasma lipid peroxidation, i.e. lipid hydroperoxides (LOOH) and thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances (TBARS). Additionally, the total antioxidant capacity of blood plasma (non-enzymatic capacity of blood plasma, NEAC) was also estimated. Results Our results showed that patients with gastric cancer had significantly different levels of thiol groups (lower, p < 0.001) and 3-nitrotyrosine (higher, p < 0.0001), LOOH (higher, p < 0.05), TBARS (higher, p < 0.05), NEAC (lower, p < 0.0001), compared to the control group. Conclusions The presented study indicates on a considerable oxidative/nitrative stress in gastric cancer patients. Our pilot study shows that not a single marker, but a biomarkers panel may be a more reliable representation of oxidative stress in patients with gastric cancer.

Keywords

• gastric cancer
• blood plasma
• oxidative/nitrative stress