Investigation of Some Antioxidant Enzyme Activities in an Experimental Colon Cancer Rat Model

Abstract

Colon (intestinal) cancer is one of the deadliest cancer types in the world and in Turkey, and it ranks third in terms of prevalence. Previous studies showed that oxidative stress, which is defined as the overproduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS), plays an important role in the cancer progression and that antioxidants play an important defense role against these radicals formed in our bodies. Current knowledge, however, cannot fully explain the biochemical mechanisms in the onset and development of colon cancer, and new research is needed. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between some antioxidant enzymes and tumor development. For this purpose, HT29 colon carcinoma cells were injected into male Wistar Albino rats to form a tumor mass. Peroxidase (POD), catalase (CAT) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) enzyme activities were determined in tissue samples taken from liver, spleen, kidney and right flank (the region where tumor mass was formed) of rats in the control and cancer groups. In general, no significant difference was observed between the liver tissues of cancer and control groups. However, enzyme activities were relatively low in tumorous spleen tissue. In tumorous kidney tissue, on the other hand, POD activity decreased while CAT and SOD activities increased relatively. In right flank tissue where the tumor mass was formed, a relative decrease was observed in SOD and POD activities whereas CAT activity was increased.