Oxidative stress level is not associated with survival in terminally ill cancer patients: a preliminary study.

Background: While cancer patients have higher oxidative stress (OS) and lower antioxidant activity, evidence for the association of these parameters with survival in patients with terminally ill cancer is lacking.

Methods: We followed 65 terminal cancer patients prospectively. We assessed their performance status, some symptoms, and serum levels of vitamin C and OS level. The Gehan's generalized Wilcoxon test was used to examine the association between survival times and variables.

Results: Subjects' performance status was very poor and they had a high level of OS and a low level of vitamin C. No significant association of these two parameters with survival time was noted (p-value, 0.637 for high OS and 0.240 for low vitamin C). Poor performance status was independently related to high OS status after adjusting for potential confounders (adjusted OR, 4.45; p-value, 0.031).

Conclusions: In this study, OS was not associated with survival of terminally ill cancer patients and its prognostic role requires further study.