title: Evaluation of selected indicators   of antioxidant status in patients with   head and neck cancer.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of the study was to evaluate lipid peroxidation (TBARS) and the antioxidant enzymatic barrier in patients with head and neck cancer and in healthy controls.
  
  
  METHODS
  Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), and malondialdehyde (MDA) were measured by spectrometry in red blood cells of 22 patients and healthy controls.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Decreased activity of SOD, CAT, and GPx as well as an increased concentration of MDA was found in cancer patients in comparison to healthy controls.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased lipid peroxidation in red blood cells of cancer patients indicates an intensification of oxidative stress reactions. Measurements of the activity of the antioxidant enzymes point unambiguously to a reduced antioxidant capacity in head and neck cancer patients. However, this was a pilot study with a low number of participants. Moreover, future research should take into account genetic and extragenetic factors.
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mrowicka
authors.forename: Hanna
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zielińska-Bliźniewska
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pietkiewicz
authors.forename: Jurek
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Olszewski
authors.forename: Ireneusz
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Majsterek
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000378:metabolism*; D002374:Catalase / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase / Q000097:blood*; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000201:enzymology*; D006801:Humans; D015227:Lipid Peroxidation; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000097:blood*; D008875:Middle Aged; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D012016:Reference Values; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D002374:Catalase; D005979:Glutathione Peroxidase; D013482:Superoxide Dismutase