Oxidative and antioxidative status after anthracycline-based chemotherapy in breast cancer patients

Purpose: The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of adjuvant anthracycline-based chemotherapy on thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) levels in patients with breast cancer who had undergone surgery. Methods: Body mass index (BMI), serum lipids (total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, HDL cholesterol and triglycerides), serum TBARS and SOD values were assessed in 30 patients with stage III breast cancer receiving adjuvant anthracydine-based chemotherapy. Results: Anthracycline-based chemotherapy had no effect on BMI, blood pressure and lipid profile. A significant elevation was noted in TBARS (5.5 +/- 0.6 vs 5.9 +/- 0.9}anon; p=0.038) and a significant reduction to baseline values in SOD levels (226.5 +/- 61.0 vs 203.1 +/- 48.3 U/mL; p=0.037) in patients following 6 cycles of adjuvant chemotherapy. Conclusion: The TBARS levels increased, whereas the SOD levels descreased after anthracycline-based chemotherapy. We suggest that oxidative stress is not always detrimental, as it can be beneficial in cancer treatment.