Affiliations: Vestische Kinderklinik Datteln, University
Witten-Herdecke, Datteln, Germany
Note: [] Address for correspondence: Dr. Petra Niklowitz, Vestische
Kinderklinik Datteln, University Witten-Herdecke, Dr.-Friedrich-Steiner-Str. 5,
D-45711 Datteln, Germany. Tel.: +49(0)2363/975296; Fax: +49(0)2363/64211;
E-mail: [email protected]
Abstract: Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) is used by the body as an endogenous
antioxidant. This property combined with its essential function in
mitochondrial energy production suggests that it may have therapeutic potential
in cancer treatment. As part of the body's antioxidant defence against free
radical production, CoQ10 concentrations may change during anti-cancer
chemotherapy. Our study measured CoQ10 concentration in the plasma of 27
children with acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) at the time of diagnosis,
during induction (protocol ALL-BFM 2000), and post induction treatment. The
starting values were compared to the CoQ10 concentrations in 92 healthy
children. The total CoQ10 concentration and its redox status were measured by
HPLC using electrochemical detection and internal standardisation. While the
CoQ10 concentration in the plasma of children with ALL was within a normal
range at the time of diagnosis (0.99 ±
0.41 pmol/μl), a drastic increase was observed during
induction treatment (2.19 ± 1.01 pmol/μl on day 33). This increase was accompanied by shift in the redox
status in favour of the reduced form of CoQ10. The increase in CoQ10
concentration during induction treatment may be attributed to the activation of
a natural antioxidative defence mechanism, endocrine influence on CoQ10
synthesis from steroid treatment, or a shift in CoQ10 from the damaged cells to
the plasma after cell lysis.
