Evaluation of apoptosis induced by exposure to antineoplastic drugs in peripheral blood lymphocytes of nurses

Abstract

Cytostatic antineoplastic drugs are considered carcinogenic and mutagenic risk factors for health workers who are occupationally exposed to them; however, the molecular mechanisms underlying these effects remain to be elucidated. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the underlying mechanisms of antineoplastic drugs-induced apoptosis of peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBLs) obtained from oncology nurses handling antineoplastic drugs. A microRNA (miRNA/miR) polymerase chain reaction (PCR) array was performed to analyze the expression levels of miRNAs in the PBLs from 3 trained nurses occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs. The effects of miR-34a on cell proliferation and apoptosis in temozolomide (TMZ) treated PBLs were analyzed by cell counting kit-8 and flow cytometry assays. The protein expression levels of B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2), Bcl-2-associated X protein, caspase-3 and caspase-9 were determined by western blot analysis, and miR-34a expression levels were detected using quantitative reverse transcription-PCR. The results of the present study demonstrated that miR-34a was significantly upregulated in oncology nurses that were occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs. In addition, TMZ suppressed cell proliferation and induced apoptosis, by promoting the expression of miR-34a, in a dose-dependent manner, and also inhibited the expression of Bcl-2. Furthermore, knockdown of miR-34a was able to reverse the reduction of cell proliferation and promotion of apoptosis induced by TMZ in PBLs. Together, these results indicated that abnormal expression of miR-34a may be considered a diagnostic marker in nurses occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs.

An ethical imperative: Safety and specialization as nursing priorities of WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer

“…Nurses, pharmacists, and physicians who prepare chemotherapy, 13,14 as well as hospital support personnel (e.g., cleaners and waste management staff) and families who are exposed to chemotherapy and hazardous waste, face immediate and long-term health risks, including cancer, miscarriages, and infertility. 15,16 Adverse effects from hazardous drug exposure are entirely preventable with proper use of PPE for chemotherapy administration and biosafety cabinets for preparation, especially in settings without closed system transfer devices for chemotherapy administration as mandated in many HIC. 17,18 Cost and supply chain challenges can be major barriers to reliable availability of essential devices and technology in LMIC.…”

Analysis of apoptosis related genes in nurses exposed to anti-neoplastic drugs

“…Exposure to antineoplastic drugs can occur mainly to hands and occasionally to other body parts or through contact with patients treated with anti-cancer drugs via their clothing and excreta [10, 11]. There several studies about the evaluation of anti-cancer drug apoptosis in lymphocytes of nurses [12–14]. Often these studies are focused on identifying a new diagnostic marker for nurses exposed to anti-cancer drugs in workplaces.…”