Glucose-6-Phosphate Dehydrogenase Levels and Oxidative Stress Markers Among Cancer Patients in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) is a sensitive cytosolic antioxidant enzyme that could be associated with carcinogenesis. Hence, its plasma levels are a good indicator to monitor cancer-induced cellular stress. This study aimed to determine the correlation between Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase and oxidative stress markers among cancer patients in Jos, Nigeria. This case-control study involved 100 subjects (60 cancer patients and 40 healthy control subjects). Their blood samples were collected to measure the levels of G6PD and oxidative stress markers (malondialdehyde, total plasma peroxide, total antioxidant potential, and oxidative stress indices). Twenty-four (40.0%) of the cancer patients were G6PD deficient. Of this, 13 (54.2%) were females G6PD. Of the G6PD deficient cancer patients, 11(45.8%) were male, conversely, 16 (44.4%) of the cancer subjects who had normal G6PD were males. Of the cancer patients, 26.7%; 13.3%, 11.7 % and 10% had prostate, breast cancer, chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), respectively were the most frequent. There was no significant association between G6PD deficiency and cancer (X²=0.025, p=0.804). Among G6PD deficiency cancer patients, the oxidative stress markers were significantly (p<0.05) higher compared to the control group. These findings showed that relatively more of the cancer patients had normal G6PD status even in increased cellular oxidative stress which could be due to host genetic factors. This suggests the need for further experiments on molecular characterization of mechanisms responsible for the findings.