CARCINOGEN-DNA ADDUCTS IN EXFOLIATED UROTHELIAL CELLS - TECHNIQUES FOR NONINVASIVE HUMAN MONITORING

Detection of carcinogen-DNA adducts m DNA from exfoliated urothelial c ells from animals and humans exposed to potential environmental carcin ogens is described. In an animal model, 4-aminobiphenyl-DNA adducts we re detected, and the shape of the dose-response curve was related to t he levels of 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin adducts. In a human study, fiv e distinct adducts were two to nine times higher in smokers than in no nsmokers. The association of four adduct measures with smoking was cor roborated by significant correlations with levels of 4-aminobiphenyl-h emoglobin adducts, type and number of cigarettes smoked, and/or urinar y mutagenicity. One adduct seemed chromatographically similar to N-(de oxyguanosin-8-yl)-4-aminobiphenyl. This adduct showed the strongest co rrelation with 4-aminobiphenyl-hemoglobin adduct levels. These data su ggest that noninvasive techniques can be applied to the study of carci nogen-DNA adducts in the target organ of humans at risk for urinary bl adder cancer.