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Aflatoxin B 1 DNA adducts in smeared tumor tissue from patients with hepatocellular carcinoma
Author(s) -
Chen ChienJen,
Zhang YuJing,
Lu ShengNan,
Santella Regina M.
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
hepatology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 5.488
H-Index - 361
eISSN - 1527-3350
pISSN - 0270-9139
DOI - 10.1002/hep.1840160508
Subject(s) - hepatocellular carcinoma , aflatoxin , dna , cancer research , adduct , chemistry , medicine , biochemistry , food science , organic chemistry
Aflatoxins are well‐known animal hepatocarcinogens, but the association between aflatoxins and human hepatocellular carcinoma remains to be elucidated. A study method consisting of indirect immunofluorescence assay combined with densitometry was developed to quantitate aflatoxin B 1 DNA adducts in smeared liver tissue obtained at the time of biopsy for diagnosis in 50 hepatocellular carcinoma patients in Taiwan. Monoclonal antibody 6A10, generated against the persistent form of the major N7 guanine adduct of aflatoxin B 1 , was used for detection of adduct. Thirty‐five (70%) of the hepatocellular carcinoma samples had detectable levels of aflatoxin B 1 DNA adducts (⩾ 1/10 6 nucleotides). The detection rate was slightly lower in men (69%) than in women (75%), and younger patients had a significantly higher rate of adducts (83%) than did older ones (58%). Carriers of both HBsAg and HBeAg, carriers of HBsAg only and noncarriers had different rates of detection: 29%, 74% and 82%, respectively. Patients with family histories of hepatocellular carcinoma had a higher detection rate (100%) than did those patients without such histories (67%). No association was found between aflatoxin B 1 DNA adducts in liver tissue and Child's score for severity of liver disease. The results suggest that aflatoxin B 1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan. Our immunohistochemical method for analysis of adducts in small numbers of cells from the target organ should improve results of monitoring for the biologically effective dose of aflatoxin. H EPATOLOGY 1992;16:1150–1155.