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| A repair to remember. The ability to repair DNA damage is impaired in lung cancer patients (blue bars, median 68%) as compared to their cancer-free compatriots (red bars, median 81%). (Adapted from Schme zer, P., et al. Mutagenesis 2001, 16, 25–30.) |
How effectively our bodies repair damage to DNA is one of the factors associated with susceptibility to cancer. To test this ability, German researchers developed a powerful assay based on microgel electrophoresis, which they say can reveal an individual’s sensitivity to mutagens and how well they repair DNA lesions (Mutagenesis 2001, 16, 25–30).
The scientists identified several biomarkers for increased cancer risk that are associated with exposure to carcinogens. But according to Peter Schmezer and colleagues at Heidelberg’s German Cancer Research Center, no single biomarker providesan adequate risk factor for any one individual.They designed a novel assay that considers the effectiveness of DNA repair, believing that this provides a more tolerable assessment.
Their assay uses the radiomimetic antibioticbleomycin, which is known to trigger single- and double-stranded DNA breaks and apurinic/apyrimidinic sites in which the bases have been lost because of damage.
The researchers found that the cells from patients with lung cancer were significantly more sensitive to the mutagen than the controls and showed a greatly reduced capacity for DNA repair. Schmezer suggests that the assay is suitable for testing an individual’s susceptibility to mutagens and the ability to repair DNA damage, and is much faster than cytogenetic assays.Moreover, he adds that it is applicable to almost any cell type.
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