Advantages and limitations of laboratory methods for measurement of carcinogen-DNA adducts for epidemiological studies

Abstract

In molecular epidemiological studies, the measurement of carcinogen-DNA adducts in human tissues can provide direct evidence of current exposure to chemical carcinogens. Moreover, data on steady state DNA adduct levels and the rate of cell proliferation can be related not only to carcinogen-target tissue dosimetry but may also be useful in assessment of human cancer risk. Thus far, laboratory methods for adduct detection have primarily utilized 32P-postlabelling, immunoassays, and mass spectrometry. However, accurate quantitation of DNA adducts requires knowledge of the structural identity and chemical properties of carcinogen-base adducts, the availability of synthetic standards for recovery determinations, and the development of complementary methods to corroborate analytical findings.