Oxidative Stress and Inflammatory Processes in Selected Neoplasms in the Group of Oncological Patients Examined With the FDG PET/CT Method.

FDG PET/CT is very sensitive imaging tool for the detection of neoplasms. Neoplasm tissue is characterized by a much higher level of metabolism than healthy tissues, therefore a 95% cases of use the method regard oncology. Fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) is absorbed by patients' organism as glucose but it does not undergo metabolism. The increased degree of FDG accumulation in tissue means its higher metabolic activity. FDG accumulates in the tumor tissue and radiates enabling its detection but the substance has not been shown to be harmful to patient at doses used in the diagnostics.

Tumor formation is a multi-stage process in which the phases of initiation, promotion and progression are distinguished. Neoplastic transformation of healthy cells is associated with disturbances of the cell cycle caused by mutations of proto-oncogenes (activation of cell division) and/or suppressor genes (blocking cell division) and mutator genes (protecting the DNA against damage or its repairing) under the influence of various factors. Increasing data indicate that one of the most important factors initiating neoplasm are reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. Mechanisms responsible for induction of oxidative stress in cancer cells are not fully explained. It is known that they are closely related to inflammation, as well as intense cellular metabolism associated with continuous proliferation, mutations in the genetic material and dysfunctions in the mitochondrial respiratory chain.

In this study a number of markers of oxidative stress and inflammation are planned to be determined including: the activities of antioxidant and lysosomal enzymes, as well as concentrations of lipid peroxidation products and low molecular weight antioxidants. The PET/CT imaging will be performed as part of standard medical procedures related to the diagnosis and monitoring of cancer diseases at the Oncology Center in Bydgoszcz, Poland.