Detection of Oxidative Stress, Apoptosis and Molecular Lesions in Human Ovarian Cancer Cells

Abstract

<p>Background. Ovarian cancer has the highest mortality rate of gynaecological cancers. This is partly due to<br />the lack of effective screening markers. Indices of oxidative stress are well-recognized prognostic criteria for<br />tumorous transformation of tissue, but their value depends on the type of tumor and the stage of its development.<br />Objective. The aim of this study is to clarify the relationship between antioxidant/pro-oxidant ratio and the<br />signs of molecular lesions and apoptosis rate in blood of ovarian cancer patients and non-cancer ones.<br />Results. The ovarian cancer group is marked by antioxidant/prooxidant balance shifting to oxidative damage<br />in blood as the consequence of overexpression of oxyradicals (by 300%). Higher level of glutathione (by 366%),<br />lower level of metallothioneins (by 65%) as well as higher level of lipid peroxidation (by 174%) and protein carbonyls<br />(by 186%) in blood of ovarian cancer patients compared to the normal ovarian group have been observed. The<br />signs of cytotoxicity are determined in blood of ovarian cancer patients: an increased (compared to control) level<br />of DNA fragmentation (by 160%), choline esterase (up to twice), higher rate of both caspase dependent and<br />caspase independent lysosomal mediated apoptosis.<br />Conclusions. Cathepsin D activity both total and free, choline esterase activity, TBA-reactive substance and<br />protein carbonyls level in blood could be used as the predictive markers of worse prognosis and the signs of<br />human ovarian cancer.<br />KEY WORDS: ovarian cancer, oxidative stress, apoptosis, caspase-3, cathepsin D, choline esterase,<br />metallothionein.</p>