title: A comprehensive review on clinical applications of comet assay.
abstract: Increased levels of DNA damage and ineffective repair mechanisms are the underlying bio-molecular events in the pathogenesis of most of the life-threatening diseases like cancer and degenerative diseases. The sources of DNA damage can be either exogenous or endogenous in origin. Imbalance between the oxidants and antioxidants resulting in increased reactive oxygen species mostly accounts for the endogenously derived attacks on DNA. Among the various methods employed in the estimation of DNA damage, alkaline comet assay is proven to be a relatively simple and versatile tool in the assessment of DNA damage and also in determining the efficacy of DNA repair mechanism. The aim of this article is to review the application of comet assay in the field of medicine towards human biomonitoring, understanding the pathogenesis of cancer and progression of chronic and degenerative diseases, prediction of tumour radio & chemosensitivity and in male infertility. A standardized protocol and analysis system of various variants of comet assay in different types of cells, across the labs will be of useful and reliable clinical tool in the field of Medicine for the estimation of levels of DNA damage and repair mechanisms.
authors.affiliation: Senior Resident, Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research , Puducherry, India .
authors.forename: Vidya
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gunasekarana
authors.affiliation: Assistant Professor, Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research , Puducherry, India .
authors.forename: Gladwin Victor
authors.initials: GV
authors.lastname: Raj
authors.affiliation: Professor and Head, Department of Anatomy, Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research , Puducherry, India .
authors.forename: Parkash
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chand
keywords: Bio-monitoring; Cancer; Comet assay; DNA damage; Infertility; Occupational exposure