Antioxidative system parameters and level of IL-18 after surgery in patients with renal cell carcinoma according to gender.

Functions of the antioxidative system and cytokines are important factors that can influence the development of cancer. The aim of this study was to determine gender-related differences in the concentration of inflammatory cytokine IL-18 and alterations of antioxidative system parameters after surgical treatment of renal cell carcinoma patients. The study comprised 40 patients (22 women and 18 men). The level of peroxidation product malonodialdehyde (MDA), the status of the antioxidative system and the concentration of interleukin-18 (IL-18) were analyzed. A significant difference in the changes of antioxidative system reflecting parameters was observed according to the gender. In the male group with higher IL-18 concentration after surgery the level of MDA was lower, while in the women group it did not change and the level of catalase activity was higher; superoxide dismutase activity was higher in both groups. It is important to notice that our previous study (where the data were not analyzed in respect of gender) showed that the level of IL-18 was significantly higher after surgical treatment if MDA content was increased. More detailed studies are required to confirm in which cases association between IL-18 concentration and MDA level is related to cancer progression and in which cases - to the better prognosis depending on the patients' gender.