PARAMETERS OF FREE RADICAL OXIDATION IN THE BLOOD OF PATIENTS WITH NON-SMALL CELL LUNG CANCER AND COVID-19 IN ANAMNESIS

Abstract

The role of redox processes imbalance in the onset of malignant transformation and neoplasia progression is well known. It has been suggested that COVID-19 is a metabolic disease. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and glutathione-dependent antioxidant system contribute much to its development. Moreover, there is an opinion that it is necessary to precisely identify free radical oxidation products that contribute to a redox status imbalance in the blood of COVID-19 patients.
 The purpose of the study is to evaluate the intensity of lipid peroxidation and parameters of the antioxidant system in the blood cells of lung cancer patients with COVID-19 in anamnesis.
 Materials and methods. We studied lymphocytes and neutrophils in the blood of patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) stages I-IIIA (T1-3NХM0). The main group included 30 patients with NSCLC (15 men and 15 women) who had suffered severe and moderate COVID-19. The control group consisted of 15 men and 15 women with NSCLC who had asymptomatic or mild SARS-CoV-2. Conventional spectrophotometric methods were used to study the levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), diene conjugates (DC) and reduced glutathione (RG), the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GP). Statistical analysis of the data was performed using Statistica 10.0.
 Results: In lung cancer patients of both sexes who had suffered severe COVID-19, MDA levels in lymphocytes and neutrophils were almost two times as high as those in patients with mild COVID-19. A higher DC level in men with severe COVID-19 in anamnesis was observed only in lymphocytes, and in women – in neutrophils. Women in both groups were characterized by higher levels of MDA, DC, and lymphocyte SOD activity compared with men. Increased RG level was observed only in the control group. In men with severe COVID-19, there was a decrease in SOD activity both in lymphocytes and neutrophils, accompanied by an increased RG level.
 Conclusion. In lung cancer patients with COVID-19 in anamnesis, CRP activation is observed. Its severity correlates with the past COVID-19 severity.