Nitric Oxide Oxidation Products in the Serum of Patients With Gastric and Esophageal Cancer and Helicobacter Pylori

Abstract

Nitric oxide (NO) oxidation products (nitrate and nitrite) were analysed in the serum of 12 gastric cancer (Ca), (12 gastric Ca, 12 esophageal Ca) and 12 healthy controls with modified Stahr's method. Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection was diagnosed histopathologically in the gastric cancer and control groups. In the gastric Ca group mean, serum nitrate and nitrite levels (11.65 ppm and 3.40 ppm) were significantly higher than the esophageal Ca and control groups (p<0.05 and p<0.001). In the esophageal Ca group the mean serum nitrate level (7.16 ppm) was higher than the control group (4.73 ppm, p<0.05) while the nitrite level (1.53 ppm) was not significantly different from the control group (1.70 ppm). H. pylori infection was significantly higher in the gastric Ca group (56.40%) than the control group (36.66%, p<0.05). In conclusion, we observed the highest serum NO product levels in the gastric Ca group although the dietary intake of nitrated foods was similar in both of the Ca groups. This observation indicates the important role of H. pylori infection in the etiopathogenesis of gastric cancer related to the synthesis of NO and consequent the carcinogen nitroso compounds.