RESUMO
PURPOSE: To estimate the RBC level of glutathione among oral squamous cell carcinoma cases and normal healthy individual. The study compares the pre and postoperative blood levels of glutathione in patients with oral squamous cell carcinoma. MATERIALS AND METHOD: In the present study a total of 45, age matched subjects were recruited. The 45 subjects were split into 15 subjects in control, 30 clinically and histopathologically diagnosed cases of oral squamous cell carcinoma who had not received any prior treatment. RESULTS: A statistically significant difference of mean value of glutathione levels in RBC of the control group was found to be higher than that of oral squamous cell carcinoma patient group. A noticeable rise in glutathione concentration in RBC of oral squamous cell carcinoma towards normal was seen postoperatively, however these variations were not statistically significant. CONCLUSION: Pre and postoperatively a marked variation in levels of glutathione was observed. In addition, it was noticed that the levels tended to shift closer to control/normal values postoperatively. The value of glutathione as a prognostic marker could be ratified if the study was carried out on a larger scale over a sustained period of time.