IMPACT OF RADIOTHERAPY ON OXIDATIVE STRESS IN NEUTROPHILS OF CERVICAL CANCER PATIENTS

Cervical carcinoma is the second most common malignancy seen among women in the world. Neutrophils constitute the “first line of defense” against any infectious agents that penetrate the body’s physical barriers. The present study was conducted to investigate the effect of radiotherapy on oxidative stress in neutrophils of cervical cancer patients. Blood samples were collected from 30 cervical cancer patients of stage II (b) before and after radiotherapy. Neutrophils were isolated from blood by density gradient centrifugation. Lipid peroxides, conjugated dienes , hydroperoxides , nitrites, Myeloperoxidase (MPO) and antioxidants like Superoxide dismutase(SOD), catalase , Glutathione reduced (GSH), Glutathione peroxidase (GSH-PX), ascorbate were estimated in neutrophils of cervical cancer patients before and after radiotherapy. They were compared with age and sex matched healthy volunteers. Level of lipid peroxides, conjugated dienes, hydroperoxides and nitrites increased significantly in cervical cancer patients. Ascorbic acid and GSH levels were decreased significantly in neutrophils of cervical cancer patients .The activities of SOD, catalase, GSH -PX decreased significantly (P< 0.001) in neutrophils of cancer patients as compared to control subjects. Decreased activity of myeloperoxidase (P<0.001) was observed in cervical cancer patients as compared to controls. Upon radiotherapy, the level of oxidation products and myeloperoxidase were decreased and the antioxidants levels were increased significantly in neutrophils of cervical cancer subjects. Thus, it may be concluded that radiotherapy decreases the oxidative stress in neutrophils of cervical cancer patients.