Asymmetric dimethylarginine and nitric oxide in breast cancer patients

Abstract EN

Breast cancer is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in women's lives.

Asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), derived from the catabolism of various proteins competitively inhibit endothelial nitric oxide synthetase (eNOS).

Nitric oxide (NO) is a pleiotropic regulator in critical to numerous biological process.

NOS activity has been detected in tumor cells of various histogenic origin.

The present study was carried out to determine serum concentration of oxidative stress markers (NO and ADMA) in patients with breast cancer and evaluate these factors in correlation with Cancer antigen (CA 15.3) and Carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA).

We found that there was significant elevation in tumor markers (CEA, CA 15.3) and oxidative stress markers (ADMA and NO) in breast cancer patients at the time of diagnosis compared to control and more significant elevation of both ADMA and CEA after radiotherapy while CA 15.3 and NO showed significant reductions.

In breast cancer patients at diagnosis, there were significant positive correlation between NO and CA 15.3 (r 2 = 0.845) and significant positive correlation between ADMA and CEA (r 2 = 0.738) & significant inverse correlation between ADMA and NO ( r2 = 0.905).

After radiotherapy was completed, there were significant negative correlation between ADMA and NO (r2 = 0.826) & between ADMA and CA15.3 (r2 = 0.734) .However, a significant positive correlation was observed between ADMA and CEA (r2 = 0.860).

These results are highly suggestive that oxidative stress markers may increase the sensitivity for diagnosis of breast cancer and aid in monitoring response to radiation therapy.