title: [Evaluation of genotoxic effects in subjects occupationally exposed to antineoplastic drugs].
abstract: The present molecular epidemiology study was carried out to evaluate the genotoxic effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs (ANP). The study was conducted in 52 hospital workers involved in the preparation, handling or administration of ANP in a hospital in Perugia (central Italy) and in 52 non-exposed control subjects matched for age, gender and smoking habits to the exposed subjects. Both comet assay and the micronucleus test were used to evaluate genome damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes in study subjects. The extent of primary DNA damage, as evaluated by the comet assay, was significantly increased in exposed personnel with respect to matched controls. On the other hand, no significant differences in micronuclei frequency was observed between the two groups. Multivariate linear regression analysis showed an association between years of occupational exposure over 10 years and higher extent of primary DNA damage in the exposed group. The results of this study confirm that handling ANP without appropriate precautions carries a genotoxic risk for exposed healthcare workers. These results address the need for regular biological effect monitoring of staff occupationally-exposed to ANP.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Specialità Medico-Chirurgiche e Sanità Pubblica (Sez. di Sanità Pubblica), Università degli Studi di Perugia, Perugia, Italy. massimo.moretti@unipg.it
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.forename: Milena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Villarini
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dominici
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fatigoni
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: dell'Omo
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Elisei
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Muzi
authors.forename: Silvano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Monarca
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D010564:Personnel, Hospital
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents