Blood levels of reduced and oxidized glutathione in malignant and non-malignant human colorectal lesions.
Glutathione blood levels were determined in colorectal cancer patients (n = 10), patients with adenomatous colorectal polyps (n = 8), and healthy subjects (control group; n = 10). Mean GSH level (micrograms/ml) was significantly higher in cancer patients [515.4 +/- 76.1 (S.D.)] than in those with polyps [407.7 +/- 90.5 (S.D.), P less than 0.05] and the control group [360.9 +/- 67.9 (S.D.), P less than 0.001]. Statistically significant lower GSSG blood level were observed in cancer patients when compared to the other groups. The highest mean blood GSH/GSSG ratio (log transformed) was observed in cancer patients [2.17 +/- 0.108 (S.D.)] and the lowest in healthy subjects [1.88 +/- 0.032 (S.D.)]. All between-group differences in the GSH/GSSG ratio were statistically significant. These findings suggest that glutathione blood levels as well as GSH/GSSG ratio may have applicability as a guide for following the activity of colorectal diseases.
Boisio
M L
ML
Department of Pharmacotoxicology, Instituto Nazionale per la Ricerca sul Cancro, Genova, Italy.
Merlo
F
F
Martines
H
H
Esposito
M
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015179:Colorectal Neoplasms / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005978:Glutathione / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood*; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide; D006801:Humans; D007417:Intestinal Polyps / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010084:Oxidation-Reduction; D011230:Precancerous Conditions / Q000097:blood*
D005978:Glutathione; D019803:Glutathione Disulfide