Influence of the management of cervical carcinoma on the activity of catalase and glutathione peroxidase in erythrocytes

Purpose of investigation: The aim of the study was to determine the effect of different types of management on the activity of catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) in women with cervical carcinoma. Methods: The patients were divided into three groups according to the mode of treatment. Patients from the first group were treated brachytherapy prior to surgery. The second group received teletherapy before brachytherapy and additionally chemotherapy. The third group was treated with teletherapy after brachytherapy sessions. Results: CAT activity was higher while GPx activity was lower before and during therapy in all groups as compared to controls. Six months after the end of therapy, the activity of studied enzymes reached the values characteristic of healthy women. No significant differences in enzyme activity among the three groups were revealed. Conclusion: Normalization of CAT and GPx activity may prove the efficacy of applied therapy in cervical cancer patients, however enzyme activity recovery was not dependent on treatment mode.

Catalase; Glutathione peroxidase; Cervical cancer; Radiotherapy

[1] Michiels C., Raes M., Toussaint O., Remach J.: "Importance of Se-glutathione peroxidase, catalase and Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase for cell survival against oxidative stress". Free Radie. Biol. Med., 1994, 17, 235.

[2] Agrawal A., Choudhary D., Upreti M., Rath P.C., Kale R.K.: "Radiation induced oxidative stress: I. Studies in Ehrlich solid tumour in mice". Mol. Cell. Biochem., 2001, 223, 71.

[3] Kulpa J., Markowska J.: "Diagnostyka biochemiczna chorych na raka szyjki macicy (Biochemical diagnostics of patients with cancer of the uterine cervix)". In: Markowska J. (ed.). "Rak szyjki macicy (Cancer of the uterine cervix)". Warszawa, PZWL, 1999, 253 (in Polish).

[4] Bell M.C., Davidson S.A., Mathis J.M., Ampil F.: "Topotecan concomitant with primary brachytherapy radiation in patients with cervical carcinoma: a phase I trial". Gynecol. Oneal., 2001, 80, 128.

[5] Beers R.F., Sizer I.: "A spectophotometric method for measuring the breakdown of hydrogen peroxide by catalase". J. Biol. Chem., 1952, 195, 133.

[6] Paglia D.E., Valentine W.N.: "Studies on the quantitative and qua!itative characterization of erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase". J. Lab. Clin. Med., 1967, 70, 158.

[7] Madigan SJ., Katz E.R.: "Identification and characterization of catA, a mutation causing catalase deficiency in Dictyostelium discoideum". J. Bacterial., 1989, 171, 1492.

[8] Cerutti P.A.: "Oxyradicals and cancer". Lancet, 1994, 34, 862.

[9] Corrocher R., Casaril M., Bellisola G., Gabrielli G.B., Nicolin N., Guidi G.C. et al.: "Severe impairment of antioxidant system in human hepatoma". Cancer, 1986, 58, 1658.

[10] Sabitha K.E., Shyamaladevi C.S.: "Oxidant and antioxidant activity changes in patients with oral cancer and treated with radiotherapy". Oral Oneal., 1999, 35, 273.

[11] Yamaoka K., Sato E.F., Utsumi K.: "Induction of two species of superoxide dismutase in some organs of rats by low dose X-irradiation". Physiol. Chem. Phys. Med. NMR, 1994, 26, 205.

[12] Hardemeier R., Hoeger H., Fang-Kircher S., Khoschsorur A., Ludec G.: "Transcription and activity of antioxidant enzymes after ionizing radiation in radiation-resistant and radiation-sensitive mice". Proc. Natl. Acad. Sci., 1997, 94, 7572.

[13] Perry R.R., Mazetta J., Levin M., Barranco S.C.: "Glutathione levels and variability in breast tumours and normal tissue". Cancer, 1993, 72, 783.

[14] Estrela J.M.,O brador E.,N avarro J.,L asso De La-Vega M.C.,P ellicer J.A.: "Elimination of Ehrlich tumours by ATP-induced growth inhibition, glutathione depletion and X-rays". Nat. Med., 1995, 1, 84.

[15] Mila-Kierzenkowska C., K􀄲ziora-Komatowska K., Wozniak A., Drewa T., Wozniak B., Drewa S. et al.: "Effect of brachytherapy on antioxidant status and lipid peroxidation in patients with cancer of the uterine cervix". Cell. Mol. Biol. Lett., 2004, 9,511.

[16] Bhuvarahamurthy V., Balasubramanian N., Govindasamy S.: "Effect of radiotherapy and chemoradiotherapy on circulating antioxidant system of human uterine cervical carcinoma". Mol. Cell. Biochem., 1996, 158, 17.