Relationship between Serum Tumor-Related Markers and Genetically Modified Rice Expressing Cry1Ab Protein in Sprague-Dawley Rats

Abstract

Genetically Modified (GM) foods are among the most important achievements of biotechnology. Given the safety importance of transgenic rice, this study was conducted to investigate the effect of GM rice consumption on serum concentrations of tumor markers in rats. In this experimental intervention, we used the blood serum samples from the Biobank taken from 60 males and 60 female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats fed on three different diets, including rat’s standard food, non-GM rice, and GM rice after 90 day. Tumor markers including Carcinogenic embryonic antigen (CEA), Alpha-Fito protein (AFP), Cancer Antigen 19-9 (CA19-9), Cancer Antigen 125 (CA125), and Cancer Antigen15-3 (CA15-3) were assessed by enzyme-linked immune sorbent assay (ELISA) method. Statistical analysis was conducted via SPSS software. The results show that the concentrations of tumor markers were within the normal range in the SD rats treated with diet, and since the concentration of tumor markers was lower than the acceptable index determined, according to the kit standard in both groups, no obvious carcinogenic effect was found. However, these findings are not enough to make a final decision regarding the safety assessment of GM rice consumption.

Acknowledgments

This study has been done in the Research Center of Food Safety and Hygiene, School of Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd. The authors appreciate Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran, for the technical support.

Disclosure Statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Funding

This research was financially supported by Vice-Presidency for Science and Technology of Iran with the Grant Number of 95/10710 and done by Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran (ID.No. 6614).