Cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus assay as a biomarker for risk of lung cancer

Abstract

Background: Lung cancer is the second most leading cause of cancer mortality throughout the world. It is an imperative requirement to find reliable markers which can be used effectively to assess the initial analysis and predict the risk of lung cancer. The cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay is one of the well-developed methods to measure the proficiency of genomic instability in peripheral blood lymphocytes of individuals with different types of cancer. In our present study, we used the CBMN assay to investigate chromosomal aberrations in lung cancer patients. Materials and Methods: Peripheral blood was collected from lung cancer patients (n = 12) and healthy subjects (n = 10). The blood samples were cultured with RPMI-1640, fetal bovine serum, stimulated with phytohemagglutinin, and incubated at 37°C. The cells were blocked by adding cytochalasin-B at 44 th h and analyzed for micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, and nuclear buds (NBUD) in binucleated cells. Results: The frequency of micronuclei, nucleoplasmic bridges, and NBUD were found to be significantly (P < 0.001) higher in cases, indicating escalated genetic damage in cancer patients than controls. This study also revealed a correlation between the age, duration of smoking, number of cigarettes, and chromosomal aberration present in the study subjects. Conclusion: The CBMN assay is a valuable tool that can be employed to screen lung cancer cases for its simplicity, rapidity, and sensitivity.

Keywords

• Chromosome damage
• lung cancer
• micronuclei
• peripheral blood lymphocytes