Evaluation DNA damage in peripheral blood leucocytes (lymphocytes) in oral cancer patients and tobacco chewers by comet assay

Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Oral cancer is a genetic disease in which the genes that control cell growth and apoptosis are mutated, allowing cells to acquire the ability to invade and metastasize. Comet assay, a genetic diagnostic tool helps in assessment of DNA damage in oral cancer patients to predict the prognosis and also in treatment planning. In tobacco chewers this can be used to create awareness and to retrain the individual. The present study was undertaken for evaluating DNA damage in peripheral blood leucocytes (lymphocytes) in oral cancer patients and tobacco chewers by comet assay.

MATERIALS & METHOD: Study group consists total of 20 patients divided into two groups oral cancer patients (Group I), Tobacco chewers (Group II). Peripheral blood was collected by venepuncture method from antecubital vein for analyzing comet assay from the subjects involved in the study to evaluate the DNA damage.

RESULTS: The present study showed , mean tail length for oral cancer (39.0 µm) and tobacco chewers (24.74 µm),mean tail moment in oral cancer (24.74) and tobacco chewers (8.47).since the p value is less than 0.01 ,there is highly significant difference in between group I and group II. Group I shows increased tail length that depicts increased DNA damage in oral cancer group. Among tobacco chewers, pan chewers show increased level of DNA damage. On evaluating the results, DNA damage increases as duration of exposure of tobacco increases.

CONCLUSION: Early detection of the cancer can reduce the mortality and morbidity. DNA damage can be easily assessed by measuring tail length. The more the DNA damage, greater is the length of tail.