DETECTION OF DNA-ADDUCTS IN THE HUMAN ENDOMETRIUM - A LACK OF EVIDENCE

A study exploring DNA adducts in human endometria, utilising TLC-P-32- postlabelling, found no evidence for adducts in tamoxifen-treated wome n, however a subsequent Study utilising HPLC-P-32-postlabelling sugges ted that very low revels could be detected. We have sought to confirm or dispute these findings by reproducing the HPLC methodology at two c entres, analysing endometrial DNA from 20 patients treated with 20 mg/ day tamoxifen for between 22 and 65 months. Liver DNA isolated from ta moxifen-treated rats was used as a positive control. We found no convi ncing evidence for tamoxifen-derived DNA adducts in human endometrium. HPLC elution profiles were indistinguishable from those obtained from untreated women and from women taking the analogue toremifene. (C) 19 98 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.