ABSTRACT
Aim: To investigate the role of iron status in cervical carcinogenesis through its involvement in the Haber-Weis and Fenton reactions serving as a pathway to carcinogenesis and using 8-oxo-7, 8- dihydro-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) as a marker of DNA oxidation in a population where iron deficiency is prevalent. Study Design: It is a cross sectional study. Place of Study: The patients were recruited from the colposcopy clinic of the University College Hospital (UCH), Ibadan and Obafemi Awolowo University Teaching Hospitals Complex, Ile-Ife, Nigeria. The laboratory investigations were carried out at the Haematology and Chemical Pathology laboratories of UCH, Ibadan and Oxidative Stress Group, Department of Cancer Studies and Molecular Medicine, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK. Methodology: Forty-five subjects with CIN and 41 with normal Pap smear result (non-CIN) were recruited. A structured questionnaire was administered to collect information on demographic characteristics, dietary, social and medical history. Fasting blood sample were collected to assess for serum iron, total iron binding capacity and transferrin saturation. Urine was also collected to analyze for creatinine and 8-oxodG. Results: The CIN subjects had more babies; > 5 than non-CIN subjects (P=.003). The individuals with > 5 children were 4 times more likely to have CIN [OR 3.79 (95% CI 1.3-10.33), P=.01]. CIN subjects had higher serum iron and transferrin saturation than non-CIN subjects. Though the mean urinary 8-oxodG level similar between the two groups, there was a trend towards higher levels in individuals with high grade CIN. Conclusion: High serum iron level was linked to frequent ingestion of iron supplement and may contribute to progression of CIN with a potential role for urinary 8-oxodG as a useful bio indicator of altered iron homeostasis and associated DNA damage.