EVALUATION OF CHROMOSOMAL-ABERRATIONS IN LYMPHOCYTES AND MICRONUCLEI IN LYMPHOCYTES, ORAL-MUCOSA AND HAIR ROOT-CELLS OF PATIENTS UNDER ANTIBLASTIC THERAPY

In 7 patients undergoing antiblastic chemotheraphy for the first time, the structural chromosomal aberration (CA) test in peripheral lymphocytes was compared with the micronucleus (Mn) test in lymphocytes, in oral cavity cells and in hair root cells of the scalp. The last test is being proposed for the first time. The CA and Mn frequencies induced by chemotherapy were compared with the baseline (pretreatment) frequenies of the patients and with confidence limits calculated in 4 control groups studies for CA, Mn in lymphocytes, Mn in oral cavity cells and Mn in hair root cells, respectively. The studied chemotherapies induced a clear cytogentic effect in at least 2 of the tests studied with the exception of interferon-α 2b (patient 6) and interferon + low doses of cis-platinum (patient 2) which did not appear to cause evident chromosomal damage. The response to chemotheraphy is generaly characterized by an increase in Ca and Mn, reaching a peak value and then decreasing in the following weeks. The CA test proves to be the most sensitive despite the fact that CA were analyzed in an average of 100 cells per sample against the 500-3000 cells analyzed for Mn. The efficiency of Mn to detect CA in in the following order: Mn in lymphocytes > Mn in buccal cells > Mn in hair root cells. The last test appears to be very promising but, used following the current method, does not appear suitable to monitor acute exposure. © 1990.