Role of free radical scavengers in oral malignancies treated with radiotherapy

Background: Radiotherapy has an important role in treatment of oral cancer, but it causes some deleterious effect on healthy cells. Radiation produces free radicals which cause lipo-peroxidation, alteration of protein, and DNA damage, and eventually cell death. This study is designed to evaluate protective role of antioxidants in oral malignancies treated with radiotherapy. Methods: This study is conducted in patients of oral cancer treated with radiotherapy. Patients were divided into two groups, control (n=7) and test (n=9). Patients in control group treated with radiotherapy alone and in test group were supplemented with oral antioxidants throughout the radiotherapy course. Pre and post radiotherapy levels of MDA, SOD and Glutathione reductase were measured in blood and cancerous tissue in both groups and statistically compared. TNM staging before and after radiotherapy and side effects of radiotherapy were also compared in both groups. Results: On statistical comparison of mean difference values of MDA, SOD & GR of control v/s test group, it was noticed that there was a significant reduction in MDA (p