title: [Assessment of concentrations of A, C and E vitamins in the plasma of patients with NSCLC undergoing first-line chemotherapy].
abstract: Lung cancer is one of the most common cancer types and it usually takes the form of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). ROS take part in the process of carcinogenesis. What more, chemotherapy used in cancer treatment augments their production, leading to the weakening of the antioxidative barrier. As a result in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy the reduction-oxidation processes are imbalanced. Vitamins A, C and E form an important part of the nonenzymatic antioxidative barrier in humans. THE AIM OF THE STUDY was an assessment of concentrations of A, C and E vitamins in the plasma of patients with NSCLC before and after chemotherapy
  
  
  METHODS
  25 first-line chemotherapy patients with inoperable NSCLC have undergone examination, including 20 men and 5 women aged between 50-75 years (average age 62.6 +/- 6.1 years). 24 healthy individuals including 18 men and 6 women aged between 49-71 years (average age 59.5 +/- 6.6 years) formed a control group. In cancer patients the concentration of vitamins A, C and E was assessed by spectrophotometry using T60V spectrophotometer (PG Instruments) before and after first-line chemotherapy, while in control group it was assessed only once.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The concentration of A, C and E vitamins in plasma of NSCLC patients was lower (p < 0.05) than in the control group. After 6 weeks of chemotherapy another significant drop in vitamin concentrations in NSCLC patients was observed (p < 0.05) and was biggest for vitamin C (39.1%).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Lowering of A, C and E vitamins concentrations in the plasma of NSCLCpatients suggests a weakening of antioxidative barrier. Chemotherapy leads to further fall in the concentration of those vitamins in patients' plasma.
authors.affiliation: Oddzial Grźllicy i Choó6b łluc, kierownik: lek. E. Schwarz; Uniwersytet Medyczny w Łtodz.
authors.forename: Sławomir
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Tokarski
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rutkowski
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mejer
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Godala
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kowalski
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000097:blood*; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D014801:Vitamin A / Q000097:blood*; D014810:Vitamin E / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D014801:Vitamin A; D014810:Vitamin E; D001205:Ascorbic Acid