A lot of different endogenous and exogenous factors are accused to promote
squamous cell carcinomas in the upper aerodigestive tract. Main risk factor
s are the chronic tobacco- and alkohol consumption. The fact,that many pati
ents develop syn- or metachronic carcinomas in this area was first describe
d by Slaughter et al. 1953 and explained with the phenomenon of field cance
risation. Concerning to this hypothesis the whole mucosa of the upper aerod
igestive-tract is premalignant damaged. In our study the micronucleus-frequ
ency was determined as a biomarker for the genetic injury to prove the fiel
d cancerisation on the cellular level at 159 people (control-group, abuser,
patients with HNSCC). Our results confirm the hypothesis of field-canceris
ation of the mucosa of the upper aerodigestiv-tract at strong tobacco- and
alkohol consumers and patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.
Furthermore there is a highly statistically significant correlation between
increasing micronucleus frequency and increasing tobacco abuse. As a final
result of our study the micronucleus assay seems to be of good value to sh
ow a genotoxic damage in healthy mucosa at people with a high risk to devel
op HNSCC, but it's not usable to give any answer if and when such carcinoma
s arise.