Majallah-i Dānishgāh-i ’Ulūm-i Pizishkī-i Īlām (Apr 2024)
Comparison of enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants in patients with squamous cell carcinoma and leukoplakia
Abstract
Introduction: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common malignancy of the oral cavity, which is usually caused by the most common premalignant lesion of oral leukoplakia (OL). For changes of dysplasia and malignancy, the level of antioxidants in the blood and tissue of patients changes significantly, which may be effective in early diagnosis of malignancies. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate antioxidants (enzymatic and non-enzymatic) in the blood of patients with OSCC and OL. Material & Methods: This study is a case-control study and was conducted on 75 blood samples of patients with OSCC and OL referred to the Cancer Institute of Imam Khomeini Hospital, Ilam. Enzymatic antioxidants [catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx)] and non-enzymatic antioxidants (ascorbic acid, beta-carotene, vitamin E) were evaluated in the blood of patients. The data obtained from this study were evaluated by ANOVA test and the significance level (P<0.5) was considered. Results: The results showed that the mean age in the HC group was similar in both sexes, while in the OL group, the age of women was 4 years younger, and in the OSCC group, the age of women was 2 years older than men. CAT, as an antioxidant indicator, significantly increased in the OL group compared to the HC group and OSCC group (P < 0.000). Also, CAT and SOD activity in OSCC serum samples significantly decreased compared to the HC group (P < 0.000). GPx also showed a significant decrease in both OL and OSCC groups compared to the HC group (P < 0.000). The results related to the non-enzymatic antioxidant factors, beta-carotene, vitamin E, and ascorbic acid, significantly decreased in both OL and OSCC groups compared to the HC group (beta-carotene (P < 0.000), vitamin E (P < 0.000), and ascorbic acid (P < 0.000)). Discussion & Conclusion: The results of this study show that the level of enzymatic antioxidants and beta-carotene in is not related to the degree of dysplasia of oral leukoplakia, therefore, it is not possible to predict the probability of occurrence of malignant oral lesions based on the measurement of the level of antioxidants in patients with OL.
