Genotoxic effects in a population of nurses handling antineoplastic drugs, and relationship with genetic polymorphisms in DNA repair enzymes.
BACKGROUND
Concern about the genotoxic risk associated with chronic handling of antineoplastic drugs has increased, and usual safety practices may not avoid exposure.


METHODS
Comet assay and MN test were performed on 30 oncology nurses and 22 controls. Genetic polymorphisms of XRCC1, XRCC3, and APE1 genes were determined by PCR-RFLP.


RESULTS
Data obtained showed increased cytogenetic and DNA damage in the exposed group, although statistical significance was only reached in the comet assay. Significant differences in TL were observed for carriers of the variant alleles of every gene analyzed. However, no significant effect was detected in the MN test.


CONCLUSIONS
Evidence that the present handling practices of antineoplastic drugs in some Portuguese hospitals are not enough to prevent exposure are provided. Present data suggest that genetic polymorphisms in the studied DNA repair enzymes may influence the individual susceptibility to DNA damage related to chronic handling of antineoplastic drugs.
Laffon
B
B
Toxicology Unit, University of A Coruña, Edificio de Servicios Centrales de Investigación, Campus de Elviña s/n, A Coruña, Spain. blaffon@udc.es
Teixeira
J P
JP
Silva
S
S
Loureiro
J
J
Torres
J
J
Pásaro
E
E
Méndez
J
J
Mayan
O
O
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000235:genetics*; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes / Q000235:genetics*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D008297:Male; D008510:Medication Systems, Hospital / Q000592:standards*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000517:prevention & control; D009859:Oncology Nursing; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D011174:Portugal / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D045643:DNA Repair Enzymes