Adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase activities and malondialdehyde levels in the sera of patients with head and neck carcinoma.
OBJECTIVE
Clinical and epidemiological findings have provided evidence supporting a role of free radicals in the etiology of cancer. Scavengers and inhibitors of free radical processes have been demonstrated to prevent or delay the neoplastic process.


METHODS
Adenosine deaminase, xanthine oxidase, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase activities and malondialdehyde levels were measured in the sera of 35 patients with head and neck cancers and were compared to those of healthy control subjects.


RESULTS
Serum adenosine deaminase activity was found to be significantly increased in the patient group (p<0.001). Compared to the control group, glutathione peroxidase and xanthine oxidase activities and malondialdehyde levels were slightly higher and serum superoxide dismutase activity was slightly lower in the patient group, with none reaching statistical significance.


CONCLUSIONS
The results indicate that serum adenosine deaminase activity may be helpful in the diagnosis and follow-up of head and neck cancers. Further studies with a larger cohort of patients are needed to clarify the exact mechanism of adenosine deaminase elevation.
Kalcioğlu
M Tayyar
MT
Departments of Otolaryngology, Medicine Faculty of Inönü University, Malatya, Turkey. mtkalcioglu@hotmail.com
Kizilay
Ahmet
A
Yilmaz
H Ramazan
HR
Uz
Efkan
E
Güleç
Mukaddes
M
Ozturan
Orhan
O
Akyol
Omer
O
D000243:Adenosine Deaminase / Q000097:blood*; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase / Q000097:blood
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase; D014969:Xanthine Oxidase; D000243:Adenosine Deaminase