title: Nuclear Division Index may Predict Neoplastic Colorectal Lesions.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Colorectal cancer (CRC) develops by accumulation of multiple genetic damages leading to genetic instability that can be evaluated by cytogenetic methods. In the current study we used Cytokinesis-Blocked Micronucleus Assay (CBMN) technique to assess the behavior of Nuclear Division Index(NDI) in peripheral lymphocytes of patients with CRC and polyps versus patients with normal colonoscopy.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples were collected from patients after informed consent. By CBMN technique we assessed the proportion of mono-nucleated, bi-nucleated, tri-nucleated and tetra-nucleated cells/500 cells, to calculate NDI. Data were statistically analyzed using the SPSS 11.0 package.
  
  
  RESULTS
  45 patients were available for analysis, 23 men and 22 women, with a mean age of 58.7±13.5. 17 had normal colonoscopy, 17 colonic polyps and 11 CRC. The mean NDI values were significantly smaller for patients with CRC or polyps than in patients with normal colonoscopy (1.57 vs 1.73, p=0.013). The difference persisted for patients with neoplastic lesions (adenomas and carcinomas) when compared with patients with normal colonoscopy or non neoplastic (hyperplastic) polyps (1.56 vs.1.71, p=0.018). The NDI cut-off value to predict the presence of adenomas or carcinomas was equal to 1.55 with a 54.2% sensitivity and 81% specificity of lower values (p=0.019). The NDI cut off value to predict the presence of advanced adenomas or cancer was 1.525 for a sensitivity of 56.3% and a specificity of 82.8% (p=0.048).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  NDI may be useful in screening strategies for colorectal cancer as simple, noninvasive, inexpensive cytogenetic biomarker.
authors.affiliation: "Carol Davila" University of Medicine, Elias Emergency University Hospital, Bucharest.
authors.forename: Mirela E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Ionescu
authors.forename: Mihai
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ciocirlan
authors.forename: Gabriel
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Becheanu
authors.forename: Tudor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nicolaie
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ditescu
authors.forename: Adriana G
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Teiusanu
authors.forename: Serban I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Gologan
authors.forename: Tudor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Arbanas
authors.forename: Mircea M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Diculescu