Serum alpha-tocopherol in patients receiving radiation therapy in head and neck cancers

ABSTRACT

The effect of anticancer therapy was evaluated on serum alpha - tocopherol in patients receiving radiation therapy. Total 84 patients with head and neck cancer were evaluated alongwith 30 controls. Serum analysis was made by HPLC technique. The serum level of alpha - tocopherol was found to be reduced [3.88 +/- 0.33 mg/L] when compared with controls [10.83 +/- 0.86 mg/L] which was statistically significant [p<0.05]. Patients responded to anticancer therapy [15.00 +/- 0.97 mg/L] showed a higher level of serum alpha - tocopherol than those patients who did not respond to therapy [9.03 +/- 0.90 mg/L]. Patients who had relative response had serum alpha - tocopherol 14.27 +/- 1.20 mg/L, who had stationary disease had 10.97 +/- 1.57 mg/L and who had progressive disease had 7.38 +/- 0.43 mg/L level of serum of alpha - tocopherol. All these values were found to be statistically significant [p<0.05]