Low intensity whole-body oxidative stress in patients with parotid gland tumors

Recently, there has been a significant increase in the number of patients hospitalized and undergoing surgery due to parotid gland tumors. We have observed an increase in the total number of salivary gland tumors, and hence an increased number of malignant tumors. Etiological factors of salivary gland tumors are still unknown. Oxidative stress (OS) has been suggested to be an important indicator of carcinogenesis in some tumors. Therefore, the aim of our study was to assess the state of OS in patients with selected benign and malignant parotid gland tumors. After final postoperative histological diagnosis of the tumor, patients were divided into the following groups i.e. pleomorphic adenoma 35 patients, Warthins tumor (WT) - 17 patients, mucoepidermoid carcinoma - 9 patients and 45 controls. The final study group included 106 patients. We found an increase in plasma lipofuscin levels in patients with all investigated parotid gland tumors. Furthermore, the activity of Cu/Zn-SOD in Warthins tumor patients was statistically lower compared to the controls, pleomorphic adenoma or mucoepidermoid carcinoma.In conclusion, we sustain the hypothesis on the presence of a low intensity whole-body OS in patients with parotid gland tumors. Furthermore, LPS may be a useful marker of OS in patients with benign and malignant tumors. Moreover, pathological mechanisms connected with WT seem to be different compared to malignant neoplasms and other benign tumors. It seems that Cu/Zn-SOD, as an antioxidative enzyme, may play an important role in those mechanisms taking part in WT.