The role of nitric oxide, reactive nitrogen and oxygen species in lung cancer

Evidence showed, that free radical species and nitric oxide (NO) or its derrivates are the key dominators in carcinogenesis. The aim of our study was to determine the alteration of NO derivates- nitrites, nitrates and 3-nitrotyrosine, as markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress in blood samples of lung cancer (LC) patients and to asses the importance of exhaled nitric oxide measurement (FeNO) in LC patients and and their relationship to type of cancer and smoking status. 54 newly diagnosed patients with LC and 43 healthy controls (HC) were studied. FeNO levels were measured by analyzer NIOX. Concentrations of NO 2- /NO 3– were assesed using the modified cadmium-reduction method based. 3-nitrotyrosine was assesed using specific antibody. Our results have shown that plasma nitrites concentrations in patiens with LC were significantly higher (4,41+/-2,24 µM) when compared with HC (2,53+/-1,39 µM). There was not difference between male and female, smokers and nonsmokers and LC types. There was not stastisticaly significant difference in level of nitrates in patients with LC (6,71+/-6,04 µM) and in HC (8,53+/-2,36 µM) regardless of gender, smoking status and type of cancer. Levels of 3-nitrotyrosin in patients with LC (0,22+/-0,17ng/ml) were significantly higher than in HC (-2,85 +/-0,34 ng/ml) regardless of type of cancer and smoking status. Patients with LC had significantly higher levels of FeNO (13ppb, IQR 8) than HC (10,1ppb, IQR 3,05) not depending on cancer type and smoking status. The prognosis of lung cancer is still poor because of the absence of valid approaches to its early detection. Exhaled breath analysis and measurements of NO derivates may provide useful assays in this field.