Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the level of reactive oxygen species, oxidative stress, and NF-κB and p53 in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Twenty-four nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients and ten normal subjects were involved in order to compare the level of malondialdehyde (MDA), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and peroxidative index (PI). The level of reactive oxygen species (ROS), expression of NF-κB and p53 from a biopsy specimen of nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue (histologically confirmed to be undifferentiated WHO III) were also compared with normal nasopharyngeal tissue. The Student t-test was used to analyze the different level of MDA, H2O2 and PI. Analysis of MDA level and H2O2 was done by colorimetric method. Levels of ROS, NF-κB, and p53 were analyzed using laser scanning confocal microscopy. MDA and H2O2 levels as well as PI of nasopharyngeal carcinoma patients were significantly higher compared to control. The levels of ROS and expression of NF-κB and p53 were higher in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue than those in normal nasopharyngeal tissue. We conclude that the tissue of nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one source of ROS and oxidative stress in nasopharyngeal carcinoma. NF-κB and p53 levels in nasopharyngeal carcinoma tissue may contribute to oxidative stress in undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma.

Key words: Lipid peroxidation; NF-kB; p53; Reactive oxygen species