Antioxidant status decreases in children with acute lymphoblastic leukemia during the first six months of chemotherapy treatment

Background. Children undergoing treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) receive combination chemotherapy and many of the components are associated with free radical production. Procedure. Among 103 children newly diagnosed with ALL, plasma concentrations of antioxidants, total antioxidant capacity (ORAC), and DNA oxidized base 8-oxodeoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG) were analyzed at baseline and 3 and 6 months after diagnosis. Results. Plasma vitamin A, antioxidants, 8-oxo-dG, and ORAC changed from diagnosis through the first 6 months of ALL therapy. In patients with higher plasma concentrations of vitamin A, E, total carotenoids, ORAC, and 8-oxo-dG there was a beneficial association with fewer dose reductions, fewer infections, improved quality of life, less delay in chemotherapy treatment schedule, reduced toxicity, and fewer days spent in the hospital. There were also adverse relationships demonstrated. Conclusions. Among children with ALL, antioxidant levels and oxidative stress appear to be associated with duration and complications of treatment.