Three measures of mutagen sensitivity in a cancer-free population

Citation
J. Gu et al., Three measures of mutagen sensitivity in a cancer-free population, CANC GENET, 110(1), 1999, pp. 65-69
Citations number
29
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Onconogenesis & Cancer Research
Journal title
CANCER GENETICS AND CYTOGENETICS
ISSN journal
0165-4608 → ACNP
Volume
110
Issue
1
Year of publication
1999
Pages
65 - 69
Database
ISI
SICI code
0165-4608(19990401)110:1<65:TMOMSI>2.0.ZU;2-5
Abstract
Different individuals appear to respond differently to the same carcinogen, and different mutagens act differently on cells. We conducted mutagen sens itivity assays by using three mutagens (bleomycin, a radiomimetic agent; 4- nitroquinoline-1-oxide [4-NQO], an ultraviolet light mimetic agent; and ben zo[a]pyrene diol epoxide [BPDE], a tobacco mutagen) in parallel in healthy human subjects to determine the relationships among these assays. Our resul ts showed that the mean breaks per cell values (b/c) (+/-SD) for bleomycin, 4-NQO, and BPDE sensitivity were 0.49 (+/-0.26), 0.53 (+/-0.30), and 0.66 (+/-0.41), respectively Age, sex, smoking status, and family history of can cer were not correlated with any of these mutagen sensitivities. Also, ther e was no correlation between bleomycin and 4-NQO or 4-NQO and BPDE sensitiv ity, but a weak correlation between bleomycin and BPDE was observed (correl ation coefficient = 0.289; P = 0.001). When the 75th percentile of b/c was used as a cutoff point in each assay, only one individual (1.8%) was sensit ive to all three mutagens. Ten individuals (17.9%) were sensitive to two mu tagens, 20 (35.7%) to one mutagen, and 25 (44.6%) to none of three mutagens . Our study suggests that these three mutagens may involve different DNA da mage and repair pathways. The lack of correlation between the assay results may indicate the necessity of using a battery of mutagen sensitivity tests to refine our ability to identify a subpopulation at high cancer risk. (C) Elsevier Science Inc., 1999. All rights reserved.