title: Nitric oxide and antioxidant status in head and neck carcinoma before and after radiotherapy.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The mainstay of the treatment of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is radiotherapy, which acts by producing free radicals. Therefore, this study was planned to observe the effect of radiotherapy on oxidative stress in patients of HNSCC.
  
  
  METHODS
  This study was conducted on 50 histopathologically proven cases of HNSCC. The levels of nitric oxide, glutathione-S-transferase, and vitamin C were estimated colorimetrically before and after treatment in patients and in 30 age- and sex-matched healthy controls. The results were compared statistically.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of nitric oxide and glutathione-S-transferase were significantly higher in patents as compared to controls and increased significantly after treatment. Vitamin C levels were significantly lower in patients as compared to controls and decreased significantly after treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  HNSCC leads to increased oxidative stress and treatment in the form of radiotherapy itself produces an accentuation of this stress.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biochemistry, Bharat Colony, Rohtak, Haryana, India. kirandahiya_2002@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Kiran
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Dahiya
authors.forename: Rakesh
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Dhankhar
authors.forename: Himanshu
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Madaan
authors.forename: Veena
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.forename: Kanchan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Arora
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D005982:Glutathione Transferase / Q000097:blood; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D005982:Glutathione Transferase; D001205:Ascorbic Acid