Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts in cervical smears of smokers and nonsmokers

Objectives. The aim of this study was to detect polycyclic aromatic hydroca rbon-DNA (PAW-DNA) adducts in single cervical cells collected during a rout ine Papanicolaou smear and to relate this carcinogen exposure dose marker t o smoking habit. Methods. An immunohistochemical assay, using a polyclonal antiserum raised against benzo[a]pyrene diol epoxide-DNA adducts, was performed to evaluate PAW-DNA adducts in cervical cells collected from 16 volunteers who smoked a t least 20 cigarettes/day and 16 nonsmokers. Results. The mean adduct level, determined as relative staining intensity b y an optical density image analyzer, was significantly higher in smokers co mpared to nonsmokers (AOD x 1000 +/- SD = 98 +/- 32 and 73 +/- 25, respecti vely) (P = 0.04). Conclusions. These results demonstrate that this immunohistochemical assay, much simpler than other methodologies used to evaluate PAH-DNA adducts in cervical tissue, is sufficiently sensitive for quantitative adduct evaluati on in single epithelial cervical cells, as already verified for other exfol iated material. This work thus confirms that tobacco smoke is a risk factor for genotoxic damage generation in cervical cells and indicates a procedur e likely adaptable to a large population screening. (C) 1999 Academic Press .