gms | German Medical Science

Free radicals play an important role within the tumour genesis as well as within the physiological immune defence. The survey was aimed at finding out whether the concentration of rective oxygen species (ROS) in patients with breast carcinoma is influenced by means of chemotherapy to what degree. A second question was whether it can serve as a prognostic factor.

At 60 breast carcinoma patients the ROS [O2^-*], [OH^*], [H₂O₂]was determined by means of chemiluminescence directly after diagnosis of the desease and was compared with tumour free probands. Besides, the ROS was measured between and after the infusion of epirubicin/ cyclophosphamid (EC) and epirubicin/ taxol (ET). Simultaneously, NO, DHEA-S, Androstendion, fTestosteron, Testosteron, CA 15-3, CA 125, sVCAM-1, CD62E, sIL-2R was determined. The influence of clinical and anamnestic factors was surveyed on the determined parameters.

Within patients with breast carcinoma [O₂ ^-*] was significantly degraded. After EC, the [OH^*], [H₂O₂] were droped and the functional capacity of phagocytosis was significantly increased. A decrease of [O₂ ^-*], [OH^*], [H₂O₂] and their functional capacity of pagocytosis was generally measured after exposure to ET. While chemotherapy, the ROS was correlated with clinical and anamnestic factors. There was no influence of the concentration of NO, DHEA-S, Androstendion, fTestosteron, Testosteron, CA 15-3, CA 125, sVCAM-1, CD62E, sIL-2R by the administered chemotherapy and these concentrations were not correlated with the height of the ROS.

These parameters still depended on the clinical and anamnestic factors. The ROS was influenced by interactions of several systems. The importance of one single parameter could only estimated. The patient´s medical condition has to considered to draw conclusions from the ROS for the prognosis and the development of the breast carcinoma.