Authors: Patel Beena P. --- Trivedi Pina J. --- Brahmbhatt Manisha M. --- Shukla Shilin N. --- et al. Journal: Archive of Oncology ISSN/EISSN: 03547310 14509520 Year: 2009 Volume: 17 Issue: 1-2 Pages: 7-10 DOI: 10.2298/AOO0902007P
Abstract
Background: Tobacco chewing is attributed to oral cancer. Prediction of cancer development by genotoxicity analysis is a major challenge to identify tobacco users at greater risk. Therefore, present study aimed to analyze tobacco related genotoxic effects in chewers monitoring micronuclei (MN) and chromosome aberrations (CA). The biomarkers were compared with non chewer to (i) predict risk for genotoxicity, (ii) estimate synergistic effect of tobacco exposure with level of biomarkers, and (iii) identify best cellular site of measurements for genotoxicity assessment. Methods: Healthy tobacco chewers (n=47); and controls (n=48) were enrolled in the study. The peripheral blood lymphocyte and exfoliated buccal mucosa cells were studied for CA and micro nucleated cell count (MNC) respectively. An arbitrary unit was obtained for Lifetime Tobacco Exposure (LTE) using frequency/day multiplied by duration of years of tobacco use. Data were analyzed using SPSS statistical software. Results: MNC was significantly higher (p=0.001) in chewers than controls. CA was higher in chewers than controls. MNC can differentiate higher tobacco exposure in chewers than CA. Controls having MNC above cutoff level have greater risk of genotoxic exposition (95% C.I.; 1.462-23.26, p=0.012). Conclusion: The present study concludes that MNC is a better surrogate biomarker to predict genotoxicity than CA for tobacco exposure and DNA damage index in tobacco chewers.
