Assessment of lipid peroxidation status in the serum of Moroccan patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma

Introduction: Many studies have addressed the role of oxidative stress products in the carcinogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). The current study aimed to assess malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in the serum of patients with NPC before and after chemo- radiotherapy (CRT), to evaluate its potential role as a biomarker in the management of this disease.

Material and methods: A total of 112 patients with newly diagnosed NPC, occurring between January 2017 and February 2019, were enrolled and followed up. The level of MDA was determined by spectrophotometric method.

Results: Serum MDA levels in NPC patients before CRT were higher (0.911 µmol/ml/mg) than that obtained in the control group (0.613 µmol/ml/mg) (p < 0.00). After CRT, MDA levels decreased significantly (0.698 µmol/ml/mg) (p = 0.007). Serum MDA levels in patients at advanced disease stages (III-IV) were significantly higher (0.966 µmol/ml/mg) than those at early disease stage (I-II) (0.492 µmol/ml/mg) (p = 0.001). Additionally, no significant association was observed between MDA levels before CRT and patients' outcomes (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: In conclusion, high levels of MDA in the serum of patients with NPC before CRT, and their increase with disease stage, accurately reflect the heightened oxidative stress level in NPC. These findings strongly imply that MDA serum levels could be used as a biomarker in the progression monitoring of NPC.