M. Neri et al., Analysis of erythrocyte glycophorin-A variants by flow cytometry in lung disease patients detects the effect of tobacco smoke, ANAL CELL P, 21(1), 2000, pp. 35-40
Citations number
29
Categorie Soggetti
Research/Laboratory Medicine & Medical Tecnology","Medical Research Diagnosis & Treatment
The glycophoryn A (GPA) assay evaluates somatic in vivo mutations. It is co
nsidered a cumulative biodosimeter for genotoxic exposures and is under eva
luation in cancer risk assessment.
GPA, a polymorphic membrane protein of the erythrocytes, determines the MN
blood groups. The N0 and NN variant frequencies (VF) may be detected in MN
subjects (about 50% of the population) by flow cytometry using two differen
tly labelled antibodies.
We explored if GPA N0 and NN VF might be relevant to the assessment of indi
vidual lung cancer risk and susceptibility, in a small population with a hi
gh prevalence of heavy tobacco smokers: 8 lung cancer patients and 16 subje
cts with non-malignant lung diseases associated with increased risk of lung
cancer.
There was a wide interindividual variability and complete overlap between n
on-neoplastic and neoplastic patients. A significant positive correlation w
as seen with smoking duration in N0 VF (p = 0.04, age-adjusted). Current sm
okers (n = 12) displayed higher N0 values than never (n = 1) or ex-smokers
(n = 11), 36.3 +/- 18.2 and 21.0 +/- 13.2, respectively(p < 0.01). No assoc
iation was shown with occupational exposure.
The present exploratory study suggests that assessment of individual lung c
ancer risk and susceptibility by the GPA assay does not seem to be feasible
. The assay appears to provide a biomarker of longterm exposure to tobacco
smoke.