Abstract
Author(s): NATALIA SÅOWIK-WASYLUK,GRZEGORZ POLAK, IWONA WERTEL,TOMASZ WASYLUK, WIESÅAWA BEDNAREK
Oxidative stress is a state of deregulation of oxidative balance towards oxidative processes. Increased oxidants production influences metabolism, apoptosis and cell senescence. Moreover it may initiate carcinogenesis. The aim of the study was to assess the role of oxidative stress in carcinogenesis and development of ovarian cancer on the base of literature from the last 5 years and to describe the potential possibility to use these processes in the treatment of cancer. We have presented some markers of cell oxidative damage that might be involved in ovarian carcinogenesis. In addition, we analyzed antioxidative status of cancer cells by comparison of various antioxidants and antioxidant enzymes concentration that may contribute to restoration of oxidation balance in the cells as well as to DNA repair after oxidative stress. Given that ovarian cancer and endometriosis have common features and endometriosis is probably involved in the development of some ovarian cancers we decided to compare oxidative stress intensity in these conditions. Although many processes observed during ovarian carcinogenesis are still unclear and require further elucidation, there is evidence confirming the role of oxidative stress in ovarian carcinogenesis. However, the diversity of ovarian cancer limits and hampers the possibility to unify screening and therapy of these malignancies. Key words: ovarian cancer, oxidative stress.