Micronuclei in exfoliated human cells as a tool for studies in cancer risk and cancer intervention

Stich, H. F.; Rosin, Miriam P.

doi:10.1016/0304-3835(84)90159-9

Cited by 150 publications

(70 citation statements)

References 19 publications

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“…The approximately 30% reduction in micronuclei after P-carotene treatment is in accordance with the effect of Pcarotene reported in buccal mucosa of betel nut chewers (Stich et al, 1984a) and tobacco chewers (Stich et al, 1985(Stich et al, , 1988. Our findings extend these observations to cigarette smoke-induced tracheobronchial micronuclei, which may reflect lung cancer risk (Stich & Rosin, 1984b;Lippman et al, 1990a,b). Moreover, as plasma retinol levels were not changed, this study shows that the provitamin P-carotene does not exert its action after intestinal or hepatic conversion to retinol.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

“…P-carotene could thus rapidly compensate for local deficiencies in retinol, which may be induced by carcinogens (Edes et al, 1991). Micronuclei in exfoliated epithelial cells reflect the extent of chromosome breakage due to carcinogenic exposure, when the cells were dividing a few days or weeks earlier, in the basal layer of the epithelium of the tracheobronchial tree (Stich & Rosin, 1984b). As DNA damage is considered crucial in carcinogenesis (Weinstein, 1988), the frequency of micronuclei may thus reflect cancer risk.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Beta-carotene supplementation in smokers reduces the frequency of micronuclei in sputum

Poppel

Kok²,

Hermus³

1992

Br J Cancer

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Summary P-carotene has been hypothesised to reduce lung cancer risk. We studied the effect of 14 weeks of P-carotene supplementation (20 mg d-1) on the frequency of micronuclei in sputum in 114 heavy smokers in a double-blind trial. Micronuclei reflect DNA damage in exfoliated cells and may thus provide a marker of early-stage carcinogenesis.Pre-treatment blood levels of cotinine, P-carotene, retinol and vitamins C and E were similar in the placebo group (n = 61) and the treatment group (n = 53). Plasma 1-carotene levels increased 13-fold in the treatment group during intervention. Initial micronuclei counts (per 3,000 cells) were higher in the treatment group than in the placebo group (5.0 vs 4.0, P<0.05). During intervention, the treatment group showed a 47% decrease, whereas the placebo group showed a non-significant decrease (16%). After adjustment for the initial levels, the treatment group had 27% lower micronuclei counts than the placebo group at the end of the trial (95% CI: 9-41%).These results indicate that P-carotene may reduce lung cancer risk in man by preventing DNA damage in early-stage carcinogenesis.The scientific interest in the role of carotenoids and retinoids in the prevention of human cancer has culminated in recent years (Editorial, 1991;Meyskens, 1990 al., 1987;Fontham, 1990). Since these studies cannot prove causal associations, two large randomised trials are currently conducted to evaluate the beneficial effect of P-carotene on human cancer development (Hennekens & Eberlein, 1985;Albanes et al., 1986). These intervention studies, however, provide little information on biological mechanisms.Damage to DNA is considered a crucial mechanism in cancer development (Weinstein, 1988). Micronuclei, DNA fragments in exfoliated cells, may thus provide a marker of early-stage carcinogenesis in target tissues (Lippman et al., 1990a,b;Stich et al., 1984a). In cigarette smokers, elevated micronuclei counts in expectorated sputum (Fontham et al., 1986) or bronchial brushings (Lippman et al., 1990a) are thought to reflect increased lung cancer risk.So far, no studies have investigated the effect of P-carotene supplementation on sputum micronuclei, as a reflection of lung cancer risk. P-Carotene has been shown to reduce micronucleated buccal mucosal cells in tobacco chewers (Stich et al., 1984a(Stich et al., , 1985(Stich et al., , 1988 and may thus reduce risk for oral cancer. These trials, however, did not measure plasma levels of P-carotene and retinol. Moreover, other antioxidant vitamins may modify the effects of P-carotene (Meyskens, 1990 Blood and sputum samples were collected before and after the 14-week treatment. The participants were instructed to take capsules daily with the evening meal, two capsules per day during the first 2 weeks, followed by one capsule per day over the next 12 weeks. Every 4 weeks, the participants were sent their next strip of 28 capsules, and were asked to return the used strips with the capsules not taken to monitor compliance. In addition, P-carotene was determined...

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 91%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Beta-carotene supplementation in smokers reduces the frequency of micronuclei in sputum

Poppel

Kok²,

Hermus³

1992

Br J Cancer

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“…Two coded slides were prepared for each individual by smearing the exfoliated buccal cells onto pre-cleaned slides. The smears were then air-dried, fixed with methanol, stained by the Feulgen reaction and counterstained with fast-green as described by Stich and Rosin (1982) and examined using bright-field microscopy. For each individual 2,000 cells were assessed for genetic damage by observing the frequency of micronucleated, binucleated and broken egg cells in exfoliated buccal cells and the frequency of.…”

Section: Cytological Preparationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Increased micronucleated cell frequency related to exposure to radiation emitted by computer cathode ray tube video display monitors

et al. 2005

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It is well recognized that electromagnetic fields can affect the biological functions of living organisms at both cellular and molecular level. The potential damaging effects of electromagnetic fields and very low frequency and extremely low frequency radiation emitted by computer cathode ray tube video display monitors (VDMs) has become a concern within the scientific community. We studied the effects of occupational exposure to VDMs in 10 males and 10 females occupationally exposed to VDMs and 20 unexposed control subjects matched for age and sex. Genetic damage was assessed by examining the frequency of micronuclei in exfoliated buccal cells and the frequency of other nuclear abnormalities such as binucleated and broken egg cells. Although there were no differences regarding binucleated cells between exposed and control individuals our analysis revealed a significantly higher frequency of micronuclei (p < 0.001) and broken egg cells (p < 0.05) in individuals exposed to VDMs as compared to unexposed. We also found that the differences between individuals exposed to VDMs were significantly related to the sex of the individuals and that there was an increase in skin, central nervous system and ocular disease in the exposed individuals. These preliminary results indicate that microcomputer workers exposed to VDMs are at risk of significant cytogenetic damage and should periodically undergo biological monitoring.

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“…Smears were air dried and fixed in methanol-acetic acid (3:1). The cell smears were stained using the Feulgen reaction technique described by Stich & Rosin (1984) and Stich (1987); it was modified as follows: smears were pretreated with 1 N HCl for 10 min at room temperature, placed for 10 min into 1 N HCl at 60 o C, rinsed in distilled water, put into Schiff's reagent for 90 min and washed with running tap water. The criteria followed for estimating the frequency of micronucleated cells were according to Stich & Rosin (1984).…”

Section: Micronucleus Test In Buccal Exfoliated Cells (Fig 3)mentioning

confidence: 99%

Pesticides: Genotoxic Risk of Occupational Exposure

Gómez‐Arroyo¹,

Martínez-Valenzuela²,

Villalobos‐Pietrini³

et al. 2011

Pesticides - The Impacts of Pesticides Exposure

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Micronuclei in exfoliated human cells as a tool for studies in cancer risk and cancer intervention

Cited by 150 publications

References 19 publications

Beta-carotene supplementation in smokers reduces the frequency of micronuclei in sputum

Beta-carotene supplementation in smokers reduces the frequency of micronuclei in sputum

Increased micronucleated cell frequency related to exposure to radiation emitted by computer cathode ray tube video display monitors

Pesticides: Genotoxic Risk of Occupational Exposure

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