Measurements of Ascorbic Acid and Glutathione in Exfoliated Cervicovaginal Epithelial Cells of Smokers and Women with Cervical Dysplasias

Abstract

This report emphasizes the ability to quantify ascorbic acid (AA) and reduced glutathione (GSH) levels in exfoliated cervicovaginal epithelial cells obtained by a lavage technique. Sixty-two women with abnormal Papanicolaou smears underwent colposcopic examinations. Colposcopic lesions were biopsied and histopathologically graded. Marked variations in the number of cells and in the levels of AA and GSH were observed. In cigarette smokers, the number of exfoliated cells retrieved was significantly higher (p < 0.05, by Student’s t test). The simultaneous investigation of biochemical and virologic parameters in exfoliated cervicovaginal epithelial cells, in conjunction with the known cytopathologic and epidemiologic risk variables, provides a novel approach to elucidate factor(s) that may inhibit or promote cervical carcinogenesis in designed prospective studies.

Chemopreventive activity of quercetin during carcinogenesis in cervix uteri in mice

“…Reports on the association of GSH and GST in carcinogenesis and in cancer is often contradictory. Some reports indicate a decreased level of GSH in cervical neoplasia and invasive carcinoma (Kumar et al, 1995;Basu et al, 1991). Decreased plasma GSH was also noted in malignancies of breast, lung, liver, prostate and in lymphoma (Beuyer and Gilbert, 1985).…”