Elevated exhalation of hydrogen peroxide in patients with non-small cell lung cancer is not affected by chemotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
Reactive oxygen species, which are implicated in the process of carcinogenesis, are also responsible for cell death during chemotherapy (CHT). Therefore, the aim of the study was to evaluate exhaled H2O2levels in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients before and after CHT.


METHODS
Thirty patients (age 61.3 ± 9.3 years) with advanced NSCLC (stage IIIB-IV) and 15 age-matched healthy cigarette smokers were enrolled into the study. Patients received four cycles of cisplatin or carboplatin with vinorelbine every three weeks. Before and after the first, second, and fourth cycle, the concentration of H2O2in exhaled breath condensate was measured with respect to treatment response.


RESULTS
At the baseline, NSCLC patients exhaled 3.8 times more H2O2than the control group (0.49 ± 0.14 vs. 0.13 ± 0.03 µmol/L, P < 0.05); this difference persisted throughout the study. CHT had no noticeable effect on exhaled H2O2levels independent of the treatment response (partial remission vs. progressive disease). Pre- and post-CHT cycles of H2O2levels generally correlated positively.


CONCLUSIONS
The study demonstrated the occurrence of oxidative stress in the airways of advanced NSCLC patients. Exhaled H2O2level was not affected by CHT and independent of treatment results and changes in the number of circulating neutrophils.
a Clinical Pneumology Ward , Medical University of Lodz , Lodz , Poland.
Agnieszka
A
Krawczyk
b Department of Clinical Physiology , Medical University of Lodz , Lodz , Poland.
Dariusz
D
Nowak
c Department of Nephrology, Hypertension and Kidney Transplantation , Medical University of Lodz , Lodz , Poland.
Piotr Jan
PJ
Nowak
d DynamoLab Academic Laboratory of Movement and Human Physical Performance , Medical University of Lodz , Lodz , Poland.
Gianluca
G
Padula
a Clinical Pneumology Ward , Medical University of Lodz , Lodz , Poland.
Sylwia
S
Kwiatkowska
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000368:Aged; D016190:Carboplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D002945:Cisplatin / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists / Q000627:therapeutic use; D014747:Vinblastine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000627:therapeutic use; D000077235:Vinorelbine
D000305:Adrenal Cortex Hormones; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D058831:Serotonin 5-HT3 Receptor Antagonists; D014747:Vinblastine; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D016190:Carboplatin; D002945:Cisplatin; D000077235:Vinorelbine
Hydrogen peroxide; chemotherapy; exhaled breath condensate; non-small cell lung cancer