Malondialdehyde and nitric oxide levels in the plasma of patients with advanced laryngeal cancer

Purpose. We investigated alterations in plasma nitrite, nitrate, total nitric oxide (NO.), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels in patients with advanced stage laryngeal cancer. Methods. We measured the levels of MDA and total NOD as well as the NO3- marker for NO. generation, in 25 patients with advanced laryngeal cancer and 15 healthy control subjects. Results. The levels of plasma MDA, NO., and NO3-, were significantly higher in the patients with laryngeal cancer than in the healthy controls (P < 0.001 for all). On the other hand, although plasma NO2- was increased in the patient group, the statistical difference was not significant (P > 0.05). Moreover, the MDA and NO. levels did not differ significantly between patients with stage III and stage IV laryngeal cancer. Conclusion. These findings demonstrate that oxidative stress is increased in patients with advanced laryngeal cancer.