This study aimed to evaluate the presence of reactive oxygen species in laryngeal cancer tissue, using a luminol-amplified chemiluminescence method.

Fourteen patients with histopathologically diagnosed laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma were enrolled. Patients with recurrent tumours or a history of prior chemotherapy or radiotherapy were excluded. Tissue specimens were harvested both from the tumour itself and from the neighbouring, apparently normal mucosa (immediately after tumour removal). Tissue specimens were washed with ice-cold saline solution and processed immediately, without storage. The level of reactive oxygen species was measured quantitatively by a luminol-amplified chemiluminescence method.

The mean luminol-amplified chemiluminescence values for tumour and control tissue were 140.52 (standard error of the mean 40.21) and 121.36 (standard error of the mean 35.33) relative light units/mg tissue, respectively. Furthermore, mean tumour and control luminol chemiluminescence values were compared for stage one and two tumours versus stage three and four tumours. Both the tumour and the control luminol chemiluminescence values for the latter tumour group were significantly higher than those for the former tumour group.

This study measured directly the levels of reactive oxygen species in samples of laryngeal cancer tissue and normal mucosa. Higher levels of reactive oxygen species were found in laryngeal cancer tissue, suggesting a relationship between reactive oxygen species and laryngeal cancer.