Analysis of aromatic DNA adducts in laryngeal biopsies

Epidemiological studies have confirmed the correlation between tobacco smok ing, environmental pollution and the incidence of cancers of the respirator y tract. The occurrence of laryngeal cancer in Poland is relatively high co mpared to other European countries. Since 1969 the mortality related to lar ynx cancer appears to be increasing. Tobacco smoke contains an abundance of such carcinogenic compounds as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), aro matic amines and N-nitrosoamines, which can react with DNA and form adducts . We analyzed aromatic DNA adducts in laryngeal tissues from patients with primary laryngeal, which was confirmed histopathologically to be squamous c ell carcinoma. The group consisted of 33 patients (5 women and 28 men). Tot al laryngectomy was performed in patients. A detergent-phenol method was us ed for DNA isolation. Aromatic DNA adducts were analyzed by a P-32-postlabe lling technique with butanol extraction and high performance liquid chromat ography. The presence of aromatic DNA adducts was demonstrated in all tissu es. Large interindividual differences of DNA adduct levels were seen in eac h tissue studied. There was a higher mean level of DNA adducts in interaryt enoid area non-tumors (51.96/10(8) +/- 91.71 NN) than in non-tumor tissue e lswhere (46.91/10(8) +/- 46.36 NN) and tumor tissue (43.52/10(8) +/- 45.88 NN). Adduct levels were correlated with age, sex, cigarette smoking and TNM stage.