The investigation of micronucleus frequency in some cancer patients

7. SUMMARY Some genetic diseases may have increased cellular instability. Since most human tumors has a genetic base, we aimed to seek the genetic instability of cancer patients by micronucleus analysis, a mutation screening test which is a more practical and economic technique than is metaphase analysis for chromosomal aberrations. Genetic changes were assessed in untreated cancer patients (lung, stomach and colon cancer) by different genotoxical screening methods, the cytokinesis-block micronucleus test, the buccal mucosa cell micronucleus test. The evaluation of micronuclei number in periferal blood lymphocytes and buccal mucosa cells shows genomic instability in somatic cells of humans. Significantly increased number of micronuclei in cells of cancer patients prior to the initiation of chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy was observed compared with healthy persons. In addition, there is no significant differece between smoker and non-smoker groups and male and female groups was not significant. These results suggest that cancer in humans is characterized by an increase of chromosomal damage and micronucleus assay may be useful in the routine cytogenetic studies of cancer, Key Words: Micronucleus test, Buccal cells, Lymphocytes, Cancer 44