STM Journals Peer-reviewed research from Consortium e-Learning Network

Research and Reviews: Journal of Oncology and Hematology

Comparative Evaluation of Genotoxicity in Peripheral Blood Mononuclear Cells in Oral Precancer and Cancer Patients Using Single Cell Gel Electrophoresis

  1. Deep Kumari Yadav
  2. Pooja Senghani
  3. Dhiru Makwana
  4. Rakesh Rawal

Abstract

In the present study the comet assay was performed in peripheral mononuclear cells to evaluate DNA damage among tobacco chewers and smokers. The assay provides a quick, accurate and sensitive way to detect various forms of DNA damage in individual cells. The study comprises 50 oral cancer patients, 12 oral submucous fibrosis patients and 10 healthy controls. The length of the comet tail was used to determine the level of DNA damage. In all groups a significant increase in the tail length was observed as compared to the healthy control. The highest tail length was observed among tobacco and bidi (smoker) in oral cancer groups (p=0.01). Whereas, in oral submucous fibrosis higher tail length was observed with tobacco chewers along with smoker (22.92 ± 2.02) High statistical significance (P < 0.0001) was found in DNA damage levels between control and study groups (OC and OSMF). Between all staging phases, there was a stepwise increase in DNA damage levels with strong statistical significance (P < 0.005). The findings of the present study indicate that tobacco and smoking are genotoxic substances that cause DNA damage.
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