title: Investigation of DNA damage by the alkaline comet assay in 131I-treated thyroid cancer patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To assess the possible applicability of comet assay in the evaluation of DNA damage caused by ionizing radiation. The alkaline comet assay or single-cell gel electrophoresis has been used as a standard method for measuring and analyzing DNA damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Peripheral blood samples were collected from papillary thyroid cancer patients who received 131I by oral administration. Blood samples were taken just before the treatment, on the first day of treatment, and 1 week posttreatment. To determine the radiation-induced DNA damage, alkaline comet assay was performed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  It was found that significantly high levels of DNA damage occurred in first day samples when compared to control samples according to tail moment measurements. Also, a decrease in the level of damage was observed in the 1-week samples.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our observations and data confirmed that treatment with 131I for papilloma thyroid cancer can cause DNA damage in circulating lymphocytes, and the comet assay seemed suitable to assess the effect of radioactive iodine for the patients.
authors.affiliation: Molecular Biology Section, Department of Biology, Hacettepe University, Faculty of Science, Beytepe, Ankara, Turkey. unlusibel@gmail.com
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Unlü
authors.forename: Sertaç
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Sibel
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sümer
authors.forename: Emel
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Sağlar
authors.forename: Selma
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Taştan
authors.forename: Metin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kir
mesh_terms: D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002291:Carcinoma, Papillary; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage / Q000528:radiation effects*; D006801:Humans; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes / Q000009:adverse effects*; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000528:radiation effects*; D011832:Radiation Injuries / Q000209:etiology*; D000077273:Thyroid Cancer, Papillary; D013964:Thyroid Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000532:radiotherapy*
chemical_list: D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes