Ovarian cancer (OC) is the fifth most common cancer of females in industrialized countries. More than
80% of all cases are being diagnosed with post-menopausal women in the age group of 50 years.
Epidemiological data suggested that biology and the initiation of ovarian cancer is associated with
lifetime exposure of estrogen hormone. There were 100 healthy individuals included as control group and
100 diagnosed ovarian cancer patients were taken as subjects. Level of Malondialdehyde (MDA),
superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione (GSH), catalase (CAT), nitric oxide (NO), vitamin A and
vitamin E were assessed by spectrophotometer. Whereas matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2), MMP-9,
8-OHdG, IL-2, TNF-?, iNOS, Heat shock protein-70 (HSP-70), HSP-90, estradiol (E2), progesterone,
epidermal growth factor (EGF) and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) were measured by
commercially available ELISA kits. Significantly increased levels of MDA were observed in ovarian
cancer patients (4.87±1.30 nmoles/mL, p= 0.023) as compared to control groups (0.956±0.016
nmoles/mL). The levels of 8-OHdG, NO and iNOS were remarkably high in ovarian cancer patients
(0.88±0.004 pg/mL, 58.66±7.15 ?mol/L and 21.16±6.88 IU/mL) in comparison to healthy individuals
(0.03±0.001 pg/mL, 21.19±1.33 ?mol/L and 8.98±1.88 IU/mL) respectively. Higher levels of IL-2 were
significantly observed in ovarian cancer patients as compared to control groups (11.26±1.14 pg/mL vs.
8.29±2.16 pg/mL, p= 0.041). Increased levels of MMP-2 and MMP-9 were recorded in ovarian cancer
patients (59.30±4.42 ng/mL and 63.46±6.95 ng/mL) as compared to controls (38.58±4.18 ng/mL and
56.13±5.78 ng/mL) respectively. Similarly, the levels of HSP-70 and HSP-90 were significantly higher in
the diseased group (33.28±3.58 ng/mL and 22.29±2.16 ng/mL) as compared to control group (8.86±1.05
ng/mL and 6.56±1.03 ng/mL) respectively. In contrary, the significant low levels of antioxidants, i.e.,
CAT (2.08±0.03 µmol/mol, p= 0.016), SOD (0.42±0.03 µg/mL, p= 0.000) and GSH (6.26±1.08 µg/mL,
p= 0.018) were present in ovarian cancer patients as compared to controls. Significantly increased levels
of Estradiol (E2) (71.26±6.23 vs 22.05±2.16 pg/mL) and low levels of progesterone (5.16±1.05 vs
25.16±2.16 ng/mL) were measured in ovarian cancer patients as compared to control group respectively.
This study shows that due to oxidative stress, different cytokines are released by TAMs (Tumor
associated macrophages) that enhance the production of MMPs and degrade the epithelial lining of the
ovary. MMP is responsible in the formation of different growth factors to induce the angiogenesis.
Oxidative stress is found in ovarian tumors and cytokines are released which are more susceptible for the
progression of ovarian cancer. MMP-9 is implicated in early invasion and adhesion that damage
extracellular matrix of the epithelial lining of the ovary.
Keywords: Ovarian cancer, Malondialdehyde, Matrix Metalloproteinases-9, Interlukins-2
Publication date: 01/01/2022
https://ijbpas.com/pdf/2022/January/MS_IJBPAS_2022_6182.pdf
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https://doi.org/10.31032/IJBPAS/2022/11.1.6182
