SUMMARY
The cells of an organism have a definite concentration of electrons that characterizes their stable redox status. Electrons are transported to the oxygen and create the potential energy to realize the cell functions such as growth and apoptosis. Imbalance in the redox state of cells initiates the development and progression of the most socially significant pathologies.The aim of the research usas to study the blood redox state in patients with rectal cancer (RC) (the levels of ceruloplasmin (CP), transferrin (TF) and “free iron” (“FI”), superoxyd-, NO-generating activity of neutrophils and platelets) and its impact on ?verall survival (?S). Venous blood samples of 60 patients with RC (T2-4N0-2M0G2) and 20 donors were studied. The defining levels of CP, TF, “FI” in blood was performed by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at the temperature of liquid nitrogen (T=77 K).The blood redox state in patients with RC are formed by: 2 times reduced CP activity in comparison with the reference sample; 3 times reduced TF content and 10 times increased “FI” levels; slightly increased superoxide- generating activity of neutrophils and 8–14 times increased superoxide generating activity of platelets; 3.7 and 4.3 times reduced NO generation rate of neutrophils and platelets, respectively. It was found that the survival in patients with RC was significantly influenced by the level of CP activity (p <0.044), levels of “FI” (p<0.026), superoxide generating activity of NADP·H-oxidase of neutrophils (p<0.043). It was found that the adenocarcinoma progression in patients with RC (T2-4N0-2M0G2) was accompanied by change in the blood redox state by reducing CP activity and level of TF that led to the emergence of “FI” and the increase of its level. Besides, the changes of superoxyde- and NO-generating activity NADP·H-oxidase and iNOS of neutrophils and platelets significantly influenced the imbalance of the blood redox state in the patients. The state of redox forming blood components in patients correlated with the ?verall 5-year survival. It was found that the CP activity, the “FI” level and the superoxide-generating activity of NADP·H-oxidase of neutrophils and platelets had significant effect on ?S.