Effect of chemotherapy on ascorbate and ascorbyl radical in cerebrospinal fluid and serum of acute lymphoblastic leukemia.

Ascorbyl radical (ASR) in human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of various patients using electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) at ambient temperature was investigated. Also, effect of chemotherapy on ASR as well as ascorbate (ASA) in CSF and serum of acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) was studied. EPR spectra of various CSF samples showed a characteristic doublet, which was attributed to ASR. ASR in CSF and serum was directly measured without any chemical modification. ASA and ASR concentration in CSF were approximately two times higher than those in serum. ASA and ASR concentrations in CSF and serum were statistically analyzed. The analyses showed that ASR and ASA in CSF and serum had good correlation for patients undergoing chemotherapy but not for patients after the therapy. The correlation for ASR and ASA suggests that ascorbate may play an important role during chemotherapy. In addition, dynamic aspects of ASA and ASR in CSF and serum are discussed.