Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer.

OBJECTIVE: The HDL-associated paraoxonase and arylesterase activities play a role in decreasing oxidative stress, which is known to contribute to cancer development. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities and lipid hydroperoxide (LOOH) levels in patients with newly-diagnosed epithelial ovarian cancer.

MATERIALS: Serum paraoxonase and arylesterase activities, total free sulfhydryl (-SH) levels and LOOH levels were measured in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer (n=24) and controls (n=29).

RESULTS: Serum paraoxonase activity and arylesterase activity, as well as -SH levels were significantly lower (p=0.003, p<0.001 and p<0.001, respectively) in patients with epithelial ovarian cancer compared to controls, while LOOH levels were significantly higher (p<0.001). A significant inverse correlation was found between the stage, grade and CA-125 level of ovarian cancer and paraoxonase activity (rho=-0.630, p=0.001 and rho=-0.601, p=0.002 and rho=-0.436, p=0.033, respectively), arylesterase activity (rho=-0.601, p=0.002 and rho=-0.713, p<0.001 and rho=-0.580, p=0.003, respectively), and -SH levels (rho=-0.642, p=0.001 and rho=-0.637, p=0.001 and rho=-0.530, p=0.008, respectively). In contrast, there was a positive correlation between LOOH and the stage, grade and CA-125 level of ovarian cancer (rho=0.565, p=0.004 and rho=0.479, p=0.018 and rho=0.642, p=0.001).

CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that diminished paraoxonase and arylesterase activity, -SH levels and increased LOOH levels are associated with particular stage, grade and CA-125 level of ovarian cancer.