The radiotoxicity of 131I therapy of thyroid cancer: assessment by micronucleus assay of B lymphocytes.
We investigated cytologic radiation damage in thyroid cancer after (131)I therapy using micronucleus assay (MNA) of B lymphocytes exclusively, as opposed to our previous study in which MNA of all lymphocyte subsets was used.


METHODS
We studied 22 thyroid cancer patients treated with 3.7 GBq of (131)I. Peripheral lymphocytes were harvested, and B lymphocytes were isolated by an immunomagnetic method and assayed for the frequency of micronuclei.


RESULTS
The frequency of micronuclei among B cells after (131)I therapy was significantly increased relative to that in untreated control subjects, and the (131)I-induced increase in micronuclei frequency among B cells was significantly greater than that among all lymphocytes.


CONCLUSIONS
Compared with the MNA of all lymphocytes, the MNA among specifically B cells may more sensitively detect cytologic radiation damage associated with (131)I therapy of thyroid cancer.
Watanabe
Naoto
N
Department of Radiology, Toyama Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Toyama, Japan. nw31456@ms.toyama-mpu.ac.jp
Kanegane
Hirokazu
H
Kinuya
Seigo
S
Shuke
Noriyuki
N
Yokoyama
Kunihiko
K
Kato
Hiroshi
H
Tomizawa
Gakuto
G
Shimizu
Masashi
M
Funada
Hisashi
H
Seto
Hikaru
H
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D008875:Middle Aged; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D013961:Thyroid Gland / Q000473:pathology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy*
D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D019275:Radiopharmaceuticals