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DNA hyperploidy as a marker for biological response to bladder carcinogen exposure
Author(s) -
Hemstreet George P.,
Schulte Paul A.,
Ringen Knut,
Stringer William,
Altekruse Ernest B.
Publication year - 1988
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.2910420602
Subject(s) - carcinogen , acridine orange , bladder cancer , dna damage , dna , medicine , pathology , biology , physiology , toxicology , genetics , cancer , staining
A marker for biological response to bladder carcinogen exposure was evaluated in a cross‐sectional study of 504 workers at high risk due to a range of exposures to various carcinogenic aromatic amines, primarily 2‐naphthylamine. A quantitative fluorescence cytology method using the DNA‐binding dye, acridine orange, was employed to measure DNA in exfoliated urothelial cells. DNA hyperploidy (>5 C) was observed in 16 (21.6%) of 74 workers who had been exposed compared with 15 (3.5%) of 430 workers who had not ( p < 0.001). The prevalence of DNA hyperploidy increased in a dose‐response manner from 3.5% to 60% with increasing duration of exposure. The association between DNA hyperploidy and exposure persisted when adjustment was made for age and cigarette smoking ( p = 0.0001). The prevalence of the marker was greatest for exposed workers who smoked (23%), and lowest for those who had no exposure and who had not smoked (2%). This study indicates that DNA hyperploidy can serve as a marker for identifying workers who are at increased risk in occupational groups exposed to bladder carcinogens.