Post-radiotherapy plasma total glutathione is associated to outcome in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Bøhn, Siv Kjølsrud; Smeland, Sigbjørn; Sakhi, Amrit Kaur; Thoresen, Magne; Russnes, Kjell Magne; Tausjø, Johan; Svilaas, Arne; Svilaas, Tone; Blomhoff, Rune

doi:10.1016/j.canlet.2005.07.027

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Volume 238, Issue 2 , Pages 240-247, 18 July 2006

Post-radiotherapy plasma total glutathione is associated to outcome in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma

Siv Kjølsrud Bøhn
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1046, Blindern N-0316, Oslo, Norway
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Sigbjørn Smeland
- Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Amrit Kaur Sakhi
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1046, Blindern N-0316, Oslo, Norway
- These authors contributed equally to this work.
Magne Thoresen
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1046, Blindern N-0316, Oslo, Norway
Kjell Magne Russnes
- Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway
Johan Tausjø
- Norwegian Radium Hospital, Montebello, Oslo, Norway
Arne Svilaas
- Medical Department, Lipid Clinic, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
Tone Svilaas
- Medical Department, Lipid Clinic, Rikshospitalet, Oslo, Norway
Rune Blomhoff
- Department of Nutrition, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, P.O. Box 1046, Blindern N-0316, Oslo, Norway
- Corresponding author. Tel.: +47 22 85 13 95; fax: +47 22 85 13 96.

Received 28 February 2005; received in revised form 8 July 2005; accepted 10 July 2005.

Abstract

We have studied the role of systemic oxidative stress for survival of patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC). Patients with lowest plasma total GSH levels had the lowest 36 months survival. In patients with post-radiotherapy concentrations of plasma total GSH less than median value, about 73% died during the 36 months follow-up compared to about 21% of patients with GSH values above median. Systemic oxidative stress as assessed by low GSH in post-radiotherapy plasma is associated to outcome in HNSCC patients.

Keywords: Oxidative stress, Glutathione, Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, Thiols, Radiotherapy