Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study is to evaluate the oxidant and antioxidant level in cancer patients in Basrah during the period from the first of October 2002 till the end of April of the 2003. Material and methods:A total of 64 patients were investigated, who were admitted to the Basrah General Hospital, Teaching Hospital and Basrah Hospital for Maternity and Pediatric in Basrah City. 125 sex and age- matched persons without malignancy served as controls. They were 64 persons as control for leukemic patients (32 male and 32 female). The parameters measured were glutathione (GSH) level, uric acid, malondialdehyde (MDA) and phagocytic functional activity. The leukemic patients were sub classified into two groups according to their age (30 patients ≤16 years and 16 patients >16 years). Results: The biochemical investigation showed a high significant depletion in GSH levels in leukemic patients (P<0.001). The phagocytic activity was high significantly decreased in all leukemic patients (P<0.001). There was no significant difference between male and female leukemic patients in phagocytic activity. The MDA level was highly significantly increased in 16 years old leukemic patients (P<0.01) and extremely high significant in >16 years old leukemic patients (P<0.001). The investigation of uric acid concentration shows extremely high significant increase in all leukemic patients (P<0.001). Conclusion: cancer patients suffer a high degree of ROS formation causing considerable oxidative stress which associated with decrease glutathione level and significant degree of lipid peroxidation