Significance of free radical injury in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers.
OBJECTIVE
Laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer is a multifactorial disease caused by various carcinogens such as tobacco, alcohol and viruses. Likewise, oxidative stress is known to cause aberrations in the cell membrane and DNA, leading to cancer. We conducted this prospective study in order to evaluate the level of oxidative stress in laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer patients.


METHODS
Fifty patients with laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancer and 40 control subjects were selected. Serum malondialdehyde concentrations and ferric reducing antioxidant power were assessed, in order to evaluate oxidative stress. Results were analysed by Student's t-test.


RESULTS
Malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher and ferric reducing antioxidant power lower in the cancer patients, compared with the controls, indicating higher oxidative stress in the former. There was no statistically significant difference in malondialdehyde concentration or ferric reducing antioxidant power, comparing patients with versus without neck secondaries, and patients with early stage versus late stage tumours.


CONCLUSIONS
Oxidative stress may have a role to play in the initiation of laryngeal and hypopharyngeal cancers, especially in patients with other risk factors such as tobacco and alcohol use.
Manjunath
M K
MK
Department of ENT-Head and Neck Surgery, Sree Siddhartha Medical College, Tumkur, Karnataka, India. drmanjumk@yahoo.com
Annam
V
V
Suresh
D R
DR
D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004249:DNA Damage; D005260:Female; D005609:Free Radicals / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D007012:Hypopharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012423:Rural Health; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
D000975:Antioxidants; D005609:Free Radicals; D008315:Malondialdehyde