Decreased plasma glutathione in cancer of the uterine cervix.

Plasma total glutathione (GSH) content (reduced plus oxidized) was estimated in varying grades of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) and in invasive cervical cancer. The values were compared with age-matched control women. The results show significantly lower level of plasma GSH in CIN III and invasive cancer compared to controls (0.724 versus 1.082 and 0.622 versus 1.082 mumol/ml of plasma, P < 0.05). Further, the odds ratio analysis showed high plasma GSH content was found to be protective against the development of cervical cancer. The results suggest a plausible association of plasma GSH with cervical carcinogenesis. The quantitative changes occurring in plasma total glutathione during cervical carcinogenesis is a useful finding and might represent a systemic biochemical marker for precancerous and cancerous lesions of the uterine cervix.