Micronuclei frequency amongst smokers having premalignant lesions and correlation with frequency and duration of smoking

Abstract

Introduction: Cancer is caused by genotoxic effects of chemical carcinogens like tobacco. At early stages of cancer, genomic instability is reflected often as Pre-malignant lesions. Micronuclei (MN) are small, extra-nuclear bodies which have separated from the main nuclei. MN scoring can be used as a biomarker to identify different pre-neoplastic conditions much earlier than the manifestations of clinical features. Aims & objectives:1) Compare the MN frequency in normal looking buccal mucosa and potentially premalignant buccal mucosal lesions among tobacco users.2) to assess the effect frequency and duration of use of the tobacco on MN frequency. Materials and Method: Two groups, smokers with or without any premalignant lesion were randomly selected. Buccal smears of all participants were taken using wooden spatula and stained with standard Papanicolaou (PAP) stain and Micronuclei frequency per 100 cells were counted. The results were analyzed statistically using "unpaired t-test". Results: The Micronuclei frequency in tobacco smokers with normal looking buccal mucosa and PML was 2.27 and 1.93 respectively showing that the genotoxicity can be detected even before onset of premalignant lesion, but no significant difference were found between all 3 premalignant lesion (PML). There was a definite correlation between the occurrence of micronuclei and the frequency and duration of smoking. Conclusion: The increase in Micronuclei frequency in tobacco smokers shows that the genotoxicity can be detected even before onset of PML. So MN frequency can be used as a prognostic, educational and interventional tool in the management of patients with smoking habits.