title: Assessment of chromosomal aberrations, micronuclei and proliferation rate index in peripheral lymphocytes from Tunisian nurses handling cytotoxic drugs.
abstract: Anti-neoplastic agents are widely used in the treatment of cancer and some non-neoplastic diseases. These drugs have been proved to be mutagens, carcinogens and teratogens. To check the eventual effects of anti-cancer drugs on occupationally exposed Tunisian nurses, we used chromosomal aberration assay and micronucleus assay. Both parameters have been used to evaluate cellular DNA damage in the biological monitoring of occupationally exposed workers and each assay has its own aim .We used the proliferation rate index to evaluate the cytotoxic effect of antineoplastic drugs in exposed nurses. The frequency of binucleated micronucleated cells was significantly higher in nurses handling cytostatic drugs than in control. We detected also a significant increase of structural chromosomal aberrations. Control subjects generally had significantly higher values of proliferation rate index compared to expose ones. Our results confirm the genotoxic and the cytotoxic effects of antineoplastic drugs in blood lymphocytes circulation. This study points to the necessity to work under more safe and controlled conditions during the preparation and the administration of anti-cancer drugs.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cytogenetic and Reproductive Biology, Farhat Hached University Teaching Hospital, Ibn El Jazzar Street, Sousse 4000, Tunisia. sana bouraoui@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Sana
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bouraoui
authors.forename: Aicha
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Brahem
authors.forename: Faten
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Tabka
authors.forename: Najib
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Mrizek
authors.forename: Ali
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Saad
authors.forename: Hatem
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Elghezal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000009:adverse effects*; D049109:Cell Proliferation / Q000187:drug effects*; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D017575:Gloves, Protective; D006801:Humans; D007700:Kinetics; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects*; D008297:Male; D008397:Masks; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009726:Nurses; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012308:Risk Management; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents