Comparison of chromosomal aberrations frequency and polymorphism of GSTs genes in workers occupationally exposed to cytostatics or anaesthetics

Waste anesthetic gases have a significant association with deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage: A systematic review and meta-analysis of 2,732 participants

Introduction

Operating room workers are at risk of experiencing adverse effects due to occupational exposure to waste anesthetic gases (WAGs). One of the consequences of long-term WAGs exposure is the probability of developing deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage. This systematic review investigated the link between WAGs and DNA damage in operating room workers.

Methods

PubMed, Science Direct, ProQuest, Scopus, and EbscoHost, as well as hand-searching, were used to find literature on the relationship between WAGs and DNA damage. Three independent reviewers independently assessed the study's quality. Meta-analysis was conducted for several DNA damage indicators, such as comet assay (DNA damage score, tail's length, tail's DNA percentage), micronuclei formation, and total chromosomal aberration.

Results

This systematic review included 29 eligible studies (2732 participants). The majority of the studies used a cross-sectional design. From our meta-analysis, which compared the extent of DNA damage in operating room workers to the unexposed group, operating room workers exposed to WAGs had a significantly higher DNA damage indicator, including DNA damage score, comet tail's length, comet tail's DNA percentage, micronuclei formation, and total chromosomal aberration (p < 0.05) than non-exposed group.

Conclusion

Waste anesthetic gases have been found to significantly impact DNA damage indicators in operating room personnel, including comet assay, micronuclei development, and chromosomal aberration. To reduce the impact of exposure, hospital and operating room personnel should take preventive measures, such as by adapting scavenger method.

Systematic review of genotoxicity induced by occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs

With increasing numbers of cancer cases, the use of antineoplastic agents is expected to rise. This will be accompanied by an increase in occupational exposure, which can cause unwanted health effects in workers. Our aim was to give an overview of genotoxic and epigenetic effects after occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents and to assess the concentration-effect relation. Four databases were searched for papers investigating genotoxic and/or epigenetic effects of occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents. Out of the 245 retrieved papers, 62 were included in this review. In this systematic literature review, we confirmed that exposure of healthcare workers to antineoplastic agents can lead to genotoxic damage. However, we observed a lack of data on exposure as well as genotoxic and epigenetic effects in workers other than healthcare workers. Furthermore, gaps in the current knowledge regarding the potential epigenetic effects caused by antineoplastic drug exposure and regarding the link between internal antineoplastic drug concentration and genotoxic and epigenetic effects after occupational exposure to antineoplastic agents were identified, offering a first step for future research.

Genotoxicity of inhalational anesthetics and its relationship with the polymorphisms of GSTT1, GSTM1, and GSTP1 genes

Due to their wide applications, concern exists regarding possible genotoxic effects of inhalational anesthetics (IAs) among operating room personnel. This study was undertaken to examine genotoxic properties of co-exposure to nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, and isoflurane on induction of micronucleus (MN) and chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and to determine whether any associations exist between polymorphisms of GST genes and the level of genomic damage measured by MN and CAs assays. Sixty operating room personnel and 60 unexposed referent nurses were studied. The workers' exposure to the IAs was determined. DNA damage was evaluated by MN and CAs assays. Additionally, the GSTM1, GSTT1, and GSTP1 polymorphisms were detected. The mean concentrations of nitrous oxide, isoflurane, and sevoflurane were found to be 850.92 ± 919.78, 2.40 ± 0.86, and 0.18 ± 0.14 ppm, respectively. The frequency of MN and CAs in the exposed group was significantly higher than that of the non-exposed group. The frequency of MN was significantly higher in referent nurses with null GSTT1, compared to referent nurses with positive GSTT1. The frequency of MN was significantly higher in exposed individuals carrying the combined genotype of GSTT1 (-), GSTM1 (-), and GSTP1 AG as compared with subjects carrying a combination of GSTT1 (+), GSTM1 (+), and GSTP1 AA. Statistically significant associations were noted between exposure to the IAs, gender, and the combination of the three GSTs genotypes with MN frequency. These findings indicate that inhalation exposure to IAs induces genotoxic response and the polymorphisms of GSTs genes might modulate the effect of exposure to IAs on MN.

Polymorphisms of GSTM1, GSTT1, GSTP1 genes and chromosomal aberrations in lung cancer patients

PURPOSE

To study the potential links between genetic polymorphisms in the GSTT1, GSTM1, GSTP1 genes and the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in lung cancer patients and healthy residents in Russian Federation.

METHODS

200 cells in well-spread metaphase with 46 chromosomes were examined for 353 newly diagnosed lung cancer patients (males) who received medical treatment in the Kemerovo Regional Oncology Center (Kemerovo, Russian Federation), and 300 healthy males from Kemerovo, Russian Federation. The polymorphisms of the GSTM1 del and GSTT1 del genes were analysed by multiplex PCR. Genotyping of the polymorphic variants in the GSTP1 (A313G, T341C) gene was performed using Real-time PCR with competing TaqMan probes complementary to the polymorphic DNA sites. The data analysis was performed using software STATISTICA 8.0 (StatSoft Inc., USA).

RESULTS

We discovered that a GSTM1 del polymorphism increases the frequency of chromosomal damage in smoking patients with lung cancer, a general group of lung cancer patients, donors with non-small cell lung cancer and patients in the latest stages of the malignant process. The synergetic effects of occupational exposure and the malignant process can induce some modifications in the cytogenetic status in lung cancer patients harbouring the GSTM1 del polymorphism.

CONCLUSIONS

CAs in peripheral blood lymphocytes can be used as biomarkers of the early biological effects of exposure to genotoxic carcinogens and may predict future cancer incidence in several epidemiologic studies. Genetic changes in genes encoding phase II detoxification enzymes are linked to decreases in the metabolic detoxification of environmentally derived genotoxic carcinogens.