Protein oxidation: A potential cause of hypoalbuminemia in oral cancer

This study examined the role of the free radical induced protein oxidation and decreased antioxidant defense mechanism as a causative agent of hypoalbuminemia in patients with oral cancer. Plasma advanced oxidation protein products (AOPP) and % hemolysis were estimated as protein oxidation indicators. Antioxidant status was evaluated by determining GSH, total thiols, albumin and total antioxidant activity in plasma. The parameters were estimated by spectrophotometric methods. Data was compared with the samples collected from age and sex matched controls. It was observed that there was a significant increase in protein oxidation products and a non significant decrease in plasma protein thiols in oral cancer patients. However, the decrease in plasma total thiols was significant compared to normal subjects. The decrease in blood GSH, plasma GSH, plasma total protein and albumin were significant in these patients compared to controls. Total antioxidant activity of oral cancer patients decreased significantly compared to controls. Oxidative stress, weak antioxidant defense or both can be considered to be important players in causing hypoalbuminemia in multimechanistic pathogenesis of oral cancer.