Alteration of Lipid Peroxidation and Total Antioxidant Capacity in Patients With Head and Neck Cancers Following Radiotherapy

Abstract

Background: Head and neck cancers are one of the main causes of cancer related death in the world. The common approach in the treatment of head and neck cancers is radiotherapy either alone or in combination with other therapeutic strategies. Objectives: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of radiotherapy on lipid peroxidation and total antioxidant levels as biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with head and neck cancers. Patients and Methods: Head and neck cancers were documented by two blinded expert pathologists. Whole saliva samples were collected from 30 patients with head and neck cancers before and after radiotherapy and 30 healthy individuals. The unstimulated whole saliva malondialdehyde (MDA), as an indicator of lipid peroxidation, and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assayed by thiobarbituric acid and decolorization of ABTS radical cation method, respectively. Data was analyzed by ANOVA followed by Tukey’s post hoc test. Results: The levels of antioxidants capacity were significantly increased before radiotherapy in patients in comparison to healthy control (P < 0.05). Moreover, antioxidants capacity levels were significantly enhanced after radiotherapy in patients. Furthermore, lipid oxidation levels slightly decreased after radiotherapy in non-significant manner. Conclusions: Lipid peroxidation slightly reduced in patients with head and neck cancers after radiotherapy. However, antioxidant status improved in these patients after radiotherapy.