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Title: Comparison of three assays for genetic effects of antineoplastic drugs on cancer patients and their nurses

Journal Article · · Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; (USA)
 [1]; ; ;  [2];  [3];  [4];  [5];  [6]
  1. Bio-Mutatech Inc., Toronto, Quebec (Canada)
  2. McMaster Univ. Health Sciences Centre, Hamilton, Ontario (Canada)
  3. Toronto General Hospital, Quebec (Canada)
  4. York Univ., Toronto, Quebec (Canada)
  5. Health and Welfare Canada, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)
  6. Drugs Directorate, Ottawa, Ontario (Canada)

Three assays have been compared for their ability to detect genetic damage caused by antineoplastic drugs in cancer patients and possible damage in the nurses who administered these drugs. The assays were sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood lymphocytes, and the Salmonella/mammalian microsome assay on urine. Three comparisons were made: (1) patients before versus after treatment; (2) the administering nurses immediately after their work period versus after a few days off that followed (work and off-work); (3) the exposed nurses versus other nurses who did not administer antineoplastic drugs (controls). The SCE assay did not distinguish between the work and off-work samples in either the exposed or control nurses. Chromosomal aberration was the only assay which showed significant difference between the two samples of the exposed nurses and, consequently, between the exposed and control nurses. There is no evidence that the increase was connected to occupational exposure.

OSTI ID:
5840073
Journal Information:
Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis; (USA), Vol. 15:2; ISSN 0893-6692
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English