Glutathione peroxidase in ovarian cancer patients in Indonesia

Abstract

Background. Glutathione peroxidase (GPx) is one of the antioxidant enzymes that maintain the balance of reactive oxygen species. GPx has a notable role in the progression of cancer, including ovarian cancer. Synthesis of this enzyme may be down-regulated in cases of ovarian cancer. As far as we are aware, this has not been studied in an Indonesian population. 

Objective. To identify the difference in serum GPx levels between ovarian cancer patients and healthy controls. 

Methods. This was an observational analytical study with a case–control design. The study was conducted in the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology at the Haji Adam Malik Hospital in Medan, Indonesia. Serum GPx levels were measured in 20 ovarian cancer patients and 20 control subjects. 

Results. The types of ovarian cancer identified by histopathology in this study included serous adenocarcinoma (n=10; 50%) and various non-serous adenocarcinomas (50%). The mean (SD) serum GPx level was significantly lower in the cancer group (295.235 (244.479) mU/mL) than in the control group (743.546 (131.949) mU/mL) (p<0.0008). The median serum GPx level was lower among patients with serous ovarian cancer (209.915 mU/mL) than among those with non-serous ovarian cancer (338.885 mU/mL), although the difference was not statistically significant (p>0.226). 

Conclusion. Serum GPx levels were found to be significantly lower in patients with ovarian cancer than in healthy controls. Further studies are needed to determine an appropriate cut-off level for serum GPx in ovarian cancer in this population.