Evaluation of oxidative stress and nitric oxide levels in patients with oral cavity cancer

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the magnitude of oxidative stress and levels of nitric oxide in patients with oral cavity cancer by analyzing the levels of lipid peroxidation products, antioxidants and nitric oxide products. Methods: This prospective study was conducted on 15 patients with biopsy proven squamous cell cancer of the oral cavity with clinical stage III/IV and an equal number of age and sex matched healthy subjects. The levels of lipid peroxidation products, antioxidants and nitric oxide products were determined by colorimetric methods. Results: Lipid peroxidation products like lipid hydroperoxide (LHP) and malondialdehyde (MDA) and nitric oxide products like nitrite (NO2-), nitrate (NO3-) and total nitrite (TNO2-) were significantly elevated, whereas enzymatic and non-enzymatic antioxidants were significantly lowered in oral cavity cancer patients when compared to normal healthy subjects. Conclusions: Enhanced lipid peroxidation with concomitant decrease in antioxidants is indicative of oxidative stress that provides evidence of the relationship between lipid peroxidation and oral cavity cancer. Increased nitric oxide production represents a general mechanism in its pathogenesis.