title: Cytogenetic Biomonitoring in Buccal Mucosa Cells from Young Smokers.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Nowadays, much attention has been focused on the search for new non-invasive methodologies able to predict malignant transformation of oral mucosa cells. The aim of the present study was to comparatively evaluate DNA damage (micronucleus) and cellular death (pyknosis, karyolysis and karyorrhexis) in exfoliated oral mucosa cells from smokers and non-smokers in buccal mucosa cells.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 24 young, healthy smokers and 14 non-smokers were included in this setting. Individuals had epithelial cells from the cheek mechanically exfoliated, placed in fixative and dropped in clean slides which were checked for the above nuclear phenotypes.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Smokers presented more (p < 0.05) micronucleated oral mucosa cells than non-smokers. Tobacco smoke was not able to increase other nuclear alterations closely related to cytotoxicity such as karyorrhexis, pyknosis and karyolysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In summary, these data indicate that the cigarette is able to induce micronuclei in oral mucosa cells, so the micronucleus test is a suitable method for predicting oral cancer risk.
authors: Department of Biosciences, Federal University of Sx00E3;o Paulo UNIFESP, Santos, Brazil.
authors: Victor Hugo
authors: VH
authors: Pereira da Silva
authors: Raquel
authors: R
authors: de Luna Antonio
authors: Sabine
authors: S
authors: Pompeia
authors: Daniel Araki
authors: DA
authors: Ribeiro
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002471:Cell Transformation, Neoplastic / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D020732:Cytogenetic Analysis; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D048629:Micronuclei, Chromosome-Defective; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009061:Mouth Mucosa / Q000473:pathology*; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult