Oxidant and antioxidant status in larynx squamous cell carcinomas

In this study we reviewed 20 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma to evaluate the oxidant and antioxidant status on tissue level. Superoxide Dismutase (SOD) and Catalase levels, two important antioxidant enzymes, and Malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, a valuable index of lipid peroxidation, were compared in cancerous and normal tissues of the patients. In cancerous tissue SOD activities were significantly lower than in the normal tissue, while there was no significant difference in MDA levels and Catalase activities. It was also observed that SOD activities significantly decreased as the histopathologic malignancy grades increased in cancerous tissue. These changes in oxidant and antioxidant status in carcinomatous tissue of the larynx are considered to be of great interest.