Abstract
Smoking has been associated, on epidemiologic grounds, with an increased risk of cervical neoplasia. We have investigated this association, using laboratory-based methods. A 32P post-labeling assay was performed on 97 cervical biopsies to detect and measure DNA adducts (additional products formed by the covalent binding of potential chemical carcinogens to nuclear DNA). The specimens were taken from both normal cervices as well as the histologically normal regions of cervices with invasive and intraepithelial neoplasia. A detailed smoking history was obtained from each patient and correlated with an assay of cotinine level in urine. Characteristic smoking-related DNA adducts were found, and a significant difference in their levels was detected between current and non-current smokers (P = 0.017, Mann-Whitney test). There was also a highly significant trend in median adduct levels between the three tissue types (P < 0.002). We conclude that the finding of smoking-related cervical DNA damage is suggestive of a causal association between smoking and cervical neoplasia.
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.