Abstract

COMPARATIVE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS ANTIOXIDANTS ON THE HEMATOLOGICAL CHANGES DURING RADIOTHERAPY OF IRAQI FEMALES WITH BREAST CANCER

Rouia Abdulrazaq Abulkassim, Dawsar Khalil Ismael, Nawfal Abdulmonem Numan, Nada Naji Alshawi, Saad Abdulrahman Hussain*

ABSTRACT

Background. Radiation therapy involves production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induces oxidative stress condition, which attributed to the impairment of antioxidant defense mechanisms in the body especially in the blood. This study was designed to evaluate the mematoprotective effects of different antioxidants during radiation therapy in women with breast cancer. Methods. Seventy-five women with breast cancer and 20 healthy controls were included in the study. Hematological parameters (hemoglobin levels, white blood cell counts, and platelets counts) were measured pre- and post-radiotherapy for 4 weeks with and without antioxidant drugs. Results. The results indicated that in women with breast cancer, Hb, WBCs counts and platelets levels decreases lower than that of normal controls, and radiation therapy further decreases these parameters. Conclusion. The use of antioxidant drugs may have some protective effects against damaging effects of radiation therapy. Aspirin and allopurinol have some protective effects, but the radioprotective effect of melatonin was superior to the others.

Keywords: Radiotherapy, breast cancer, antioxidants, hematopoietic system.