Enhanced Nitrosative and Oxidative Stress with Decreased Total Antioxidant Capacity in Patients with Oral Precancer and Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Objective: Interaction between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) is a crucial determinant in the etiology of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), and antioxidants protect against cellular and molecular damage caused by these. This study aims to evaluate ROS and RNS, together with the total antioxidant capacity (TAC), in serum and tissues of OSCC patients. Method: Total nitric oxide (TNO), malondialdehyde (MDA), and TAC were evaluated using a UV visible spectrophotometer in the serum of 30 controls, 30 precancer and 30 OSCC patients and in tissues of 10 controls and 30 OSCC patients. Results: MDA and TNO were significantly elevated with concomitant depletion of TAC in serum and tissues of OSCC patients when compared to controls. A significant positive correlation (p = 0.01), at different levels between TNO and MDA in OSCC patients, was found, which increased with the grade of OSCC. Conclusion: An increase in the levels of TNO, NO-mediated lipid peroxidation, resulting in an increase in MDA levels, the positive TNO-MDA correlation with a deranged antioxidant defense system as demonstrated by significantly low levels of TAC; when all these facts are taken together, we can conjecture that oxidative DNA damage, a vital phenomenon for carcinogenesis, occurs due to the interplay of ROS, RNS and TAC.

Estimation of salivary nitric oxide in oral precancer patients

“…Some investigators (Beevi et al 2004, Bahar et al 2007, Korde et al 2011, Hegde et al 2012) have evaluated the serum, plasma and salivary levels of NO together with lipid oxidation products and antioxidants in oral precancer and cancer patients, and found elevated levels of NO products (nitrite, nitrate and total NO) and lipid oxidation products together with a decreased total antioxidant level. All of these investigators suggested that the oxidative DNA damage that occurs due to interplay between RNS and ROS and a deranged antioxidant defense system plays an important role in oral carcinogenesis.…”

Long-term effects of varying consumption of ω3 fatty acids in ear, nose and throat cancer patients: assessment 1 year after radiotherapy

“…Several studies have observed significant associations in head and neck cancer patients between SOD and GPx activities and better disease-specific survival and postoperative RT (Fu et al, 2011), between manganese SOD and tumor migration and invasion (Liu et al, 2012), and between the loss of GPx expression and tumor chemoresistance , which are significant prognostic factors for survival. Also, a deranged antioxidant defense system due to significantly lower levels of TAC (Korde et al, 2011) and higher levels of nitric oxide and GST has been found in these cancer patients, with a significant increase after RT (Dahiya et al, 2012). In contrast, we found no significant differences in these parameters.…”

Rosmarinic Acid Inhibits Cell Growth and Migration in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Cell Lines by Attenuating Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor Signaling

“…Oxidative stress is elevated and antioxidant defenses are often overwhelmed in patients with HNSCC [21,37]. Specifically, generation of ROS has been implicated in HNSCC development in tobacco users Figure 2: Effect of RA on cell growth.…”

“…Oxidative stress is a major contributor in the pathogenesis oral cancer. Enhanced nitrosative and oxidative stress with decreased total antioxidant capacity has been reported in oral precancer and oral squamous cell carcinoma patients [21]. Patients with oral cavity cancer exhibited lower total antioxidant capacity, uric acid concentration, salivary peroxidase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in their saliva than did healthy subjects [22,23].…”