Lipid peroxidation and upper gastrointestinal cancers

Objective We purposed to investigate the relationship between lipid peroxidation and upper gastrointestinal (GI) cancers which have a high prevalence rate in Van region. Method Plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), end product of lipid peroxidation was determined in 11 patients with esophageal cancer, 16 patients with gastric cancer and 14 healthy controls by thiobarbituric acid reactivity. Results Mean MDA values were 5.20 ± 0.68 nmol/ml., 6.96 ± 1.24 nmol/ml. and 2.33 ± 0.27 nmol/ml. in esophageal cancer, gastric cancer and control groups respectively. In both of cancer groups MDA values were significantly higher than control group (p<0.01, student’s t test) but were not different from each other (p>0.05). Conclusion These findings suggest the role of lipid peroxidation in the etiopathogenesis of upper G I cancers.