Study of the antioxidant enzymes in human brain tumors.

The activities of antioxidant enzymes i.e. Cu, Zn-SOD, Mn-SOD, CAT, and GSH-Px in the normal brain and brain tumors, as well as the two varieties of SOD in the mitochondria were examined and correlated to the histopathological diagnosis and the degree of malignancy of tumors. It was found that these scavenging enzymes of oxygen free radicals were expressed with great regularity in brain tumors. Both Cu, Zn-SOD and Mn-SOD were decreased in descending order in meningiomas, low grade astrocytomas, high grade astrocytomas and medulloblastomas. Furthermore, the reduction of Mn-SOD in mitochondria was proportionate to that of the whole tissues. While in contrast to the SODs, the CAT levels were significantly increased in ascending order in high grade astrocytomas, low grade astrocytomas and meningiomas. GSH-Px increased in meningiomas but not in gliomas.