ORIGINAL: Comparative Study of Serum Malondialdehyde in Women with Cervical Cancer and Women with High-Risk Human Papillomavirus Infection at The Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos

West Afr J Med. 2024 November; 41(11): 1120-1128 PMID: 40231722

Abstract

Background: Cervical cancer is a common cause of cancer-related morbidity and mortality among women in developing countries. HPV infection has been detected in more than 99% of cervical cancers throughout the world. Among the effective factors in the progression of HPV infection is oxidative stress which can influence the host immune responses to viral proteins and viral genes expression.

Aim: To determine the association between serum malondialdehyde concentration in women with cervical cancer and women with high-risk human papillomavirus infection at the Lagos State University Teaching Hospital, Lagos (LASUTH).

Methods: This was a comparative cross-sectional study where 90 women from the gynaecology and colposcopy as well as medical oncology clinics of LASUTH were recruited using convenience sampling method. This study comprised 30 women with histologically confirmed cervical cancer, 30 women with high-risk human papilloma virus infection and 30 apparently healthy women negative for high-risk human papilloma virus infection. Fasting blood samples of consenting women were obtained and serum malondialdehyde were measured using spectrophotometric method. Data was given as mean ± standard deviation (SD) and significant differences between means were assessed by Student's t-test. Analysis of data was carried out by using the statistical package for social sciences (SPSS) version 23 software. P-value of <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: Results indicated that the mean serum malondialdehyde levels were significantly higher among women with cervical cancer (6.13 ± 4.1 nmol/l) and those with high-risk HPV infection (5.61±3.0nmol/l) compared to women negative for high-risk HPV infection (0.35±0.2nmol/l). A statistically significant association was observed between cervical cancer and negative high-risk HPV infection(p<0.001). However, no significant association was found between cervical cancer and positive high-risk HPV infection (p = 0.57).

Conclusion: The study's conclusion highlighted significantly elevated serum malondialdehyde levels in women with cervical cancer and high-risk HPV infection compared to those without high- risk HPV infection, indicating increased oxidative stress. It also noted no significant disparity in serum malondialdehyde levels between women with cervical cancer and those with high-risk HPV infection. The findings underscored the importance of conducting serum antioxidant studies in these women to mitigate oxidative stress.