title: Comparative evaluation of genotoxicity by micronucleus assay in the buccal mucosa over comet assay in peripheral blood in oral precancer and cancer patients.
abstract: Early detection and quantification of DNA damage in oral premalignancy or malignancy may help in management of the disease and improve survival rates. The comet assay has been successfully utilised to detect DNA damage in oral premalignant or malignancy. However, due to the invasive nature of collecting blood, it may be painful for many unwilling patients. This study compares the micronucleus (MN) assay in oral buccal mucosa cells with the comet assay in peripheral blood cells in a subset of oral habit-induced precancer and cancer patients. For this, MN assay of exfoliated epithelial cells was compared with comet assay of peripheral blood leucocytes among 260 participants, including those with oral lichen planus (OLP; n = 52), leukoplakia (LPK; n = 51), oral submucous fibrosis (OSF; n = 51), oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC; n = 54) and normal volunteers (n = 52). Among the precancer groups, LPK patients showed significantly higher levels of DNA damage as reflected by both comet tail length (P < 0.0001) and micronuclei (MNi) frequency (P = 0.0009). The DNA damage pattern in precancer and cancer patients was OLP < OSF < LPK < OSCC, and with respective oral habits, it was multiple habits > cigarette + khaini > cigarette smokers > areca + khaini > areca. There was no significant difference in the comet length and MNi frequency between males and females who had oral chewing habits. An overall significant correlation was observed between MNi frequency and comet tail length with r = 0.844 and P < 0.0001. Thus, the extent of DNA damage evaluation by the comet assay in peripheral blood cells is perfectly reflected by the MN assay on oral exfoliated epithelial cells, and MNi frequency can be used with the same effectiveness and greater efficiency in early detection of oral premalignant conditions.
authors: Molecular and Human Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India and Department of Oral Pathology, Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata 700014, India.
authors: Atul
authors: A
authors: Katarkar
authors: Molecular and Human Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India and Department of Oral Pathology, Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata 700014, India.
authors: Sanjit
authors: S
authors: Mukherjee
authors: Department of Oral Pathology, Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata 700014, India.
authors: Masood H
authors: MH
authors: Khan
authors: Department of Oral Pathology, Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata 700014, India.
authors: Jay G
authors: JG
authors: Ray
authors: Molecular and Human Genetics Division, CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata 700032, India and Department of Oral Pathology, Dr R. Ahmed Dental College and Hospital, Kolkata 700014, India keya.chaudhuri@gmail.com.
authors: Keya
authors: K
authors: Chaudhuri
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D020552:Comet Assay; D004249:DNA Damage; D018450:Disease Progression; D004847:Epithelial Cells / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007963:Leukocytes, Mononuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D007971:Leukoplakia / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D017676:Lichen Planus, Oral / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000166:cytology / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D009914:Oral Submucous Fibrosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult