Antioxidative assessment of new trans palladium(II) complexes in head and neck cancer

Abstract

Background: The head and neck neoplasms stand for 6% of all malignant neoplasms worldwide. The chemotherapy has limited use due to the tumor biological properties (in majority of cases moderately and poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma). The fundamental molecule used in the treatment is cisplatin and its derivates, that can be associated with fluorouracil. The new chemotherapeutic agents are not in common use during the treatment of head and neck malignancies. However, use of low molecular weight complexes Pd(II) have the potential to be more effective in therapy. Material and Methods: Fifty-one patients, 30 men and 21 women (aged 52.9 ± 12.1 years) with head and neck cancer were included in the study. Fifty-one healthy subjects, 31 men and 20 women, (aged 54.1 ± 14.7 years) years formed the control group. Antioxidant enzymes, superoxide dismutase, and catalase activities in erythrocytes were examined. Results: The increases level of antioxidant enzymes were seen in blood sample from patients with head and neck cancer after incubation with Pd(II) complex.. For that group we obtained statistically significant result p = <0.001 Discussion: That project may contribute to the development of new more efficient head and neck cancer treatment strategies. In our opinion, the results can be used in the future to develop a valuable prognostic marker of the disease. This is important because the initial phase of cancer is asymptomatic. The search for factors involved in pathogenesis translates into economic benefits and make therapy more effectiveness through reduce treatment expenses.