SINGLE-CELL GEL-ELECTROPHORESIS EVALUATES DNA-DAMAGE IN STOMACH-CANCER

Single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) assay was used to evaluate the DNA strand breaks in stomach cancer cells. A linear increase in DNA st rand breaks was observed with increases in the histological grade of t he tumour. Average tail lengths were 24.8, 40.9 and 55.9 mu m for grad es 1, 2, and 3 respectively against a normal of 0-2 mu m. Gastritis sh owed some increase in strand breaks that suggested putative lesions. T he mean tail length was 13.9 mu m although nearly 60% of the cells had a normal pattern. The assay reflects the strand breaks at the single cell level and can be applied to biomonitor high-risk populations expo sed to environmental factors.