title: Evaluation of DNA damage induced by norcantharidin in human cultured lymphocytes.
abstract: Norcantharidin (NCTD) is currently used in the treatment of several cancers such as leukemia, melanoma and hepatoma. The mechanism of action of NCTD is suggested to involve induction of apoptosis of cancer cells via production of reactive oxygen species. In this study, the genotoxic effect of different concentrations of NCTD (1, 10 and 20 μm) in human lymphocytes was investigated using sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) assays. The results revealed that NCTD significantly increased the rate of SCEs (p < 0.05) in a dose-dependent manner. In addition, NCTD significantly increased the number of high-frequency cells (SCEs ≥ 8, p < 0.05). However, NCTD did not have any significant effect on the rate of CAs (p > 0.05). In addition, no significant differences were detected in the mitotic index or proliferative index at examined doses (up to 20 μm). In conclusion, NCTD is genotoxic to human cultured lymphocytes as measured by SCE assay.
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan .|b Biology Department , Faculty of Science, Taibah University , Almedina , Saudi Arabia , and.
authors.forename: Omar F
authors.initials: OF
authors.lastname: Khabour
authors.affiliation: a Department of Medical Laboratory Sciences , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan .
authors.forename: Fatima M
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Enaya
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinical Pharmacy , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan.
authors.forename: Karem
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Alzoubi
authors.affiliation: c Department of Clinical Pharmacy , Jordan University of Science and Technology , Irbid , Jordan.
authors.forename: Sayer I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Al-Azzam
mesh_terms: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000633:toxicity*; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic / Q000633:toxicity*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations / Q000139:chemically induced*; D004249:DNA Damage; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009152:Mutagenicity Tests; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D000970:Antineoplastic Agents; D019086:Bridged Bicyclo Compounds, Heterocyclic; C069741:norcantharidin
keywords: DNA damage; Norcantharidin (CAS number 29745-04-8); human lymphocytes