Biological response to the continuous occupational exposure to antineoplastic drugs and radionuclides

Abstract

Purpose

Antineoplastic drugs and radioiodine are recognized occupational risk factors affecting the genetic material of exposed persons. To assess cytogenetic damage and evaluate the presence of chromosomal instability during occupational exposure, a biomonitoring study was performed using a chromosomal aberration assay and a cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) test.

Materials and Methods

Blood samples from 314 healthy donors divided into 3 groups (control, exposed to antineoplastic drugs and exposed to radioiodine) were collected and cytogenetically analyzed.

Results

There was an increase in almost all analyzed parameters registered in the exposed persons. Chromatid breaks were higher in the subjects exposed to antineoplastic drugs, while dicentrics and premature centromere division (PCD) parameters were higher in nuclear medicine workers. The total number of micronuclei was higher in both groups of the exposed. The correlation analysis indicated the association of dicentrics, acentrics, chromosome and chromatid break with PCDs in both groups of the exposed, and micronuclei and nucleoplasmic bridges with PCDs in the subjects exposed to radioiodine. The discriminant analysis marked off PCD_1-5 as the best predictor of exposure. Age, sex, sampling season and duration of exposure significantly influenced the analyzed parameters, while smoking habits did not show any influence.

Conclusion

Based on the observed results, premature centromere division can be considered a valuable parameter of genotoxic risk for individuals occupationally exposed to low doses of ionizing radiation.

Keywords:

• Radionuclides
• antineoplastic drugs
• occupational exposure
• chromosomal aberrations
• micronuclei
• premature centromere division

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Jelena Pajic

Jelena Pajic, geneticist, PhD in medicine, employed at the Cytogenetic Biodosimetry Laboratory, Serbian Institute of Occupational Health. Main area of research: radiation biology, biodosimetry, genotoxicology. Authored and coauthored 15 scientific papers published in international scientific journals as well as 30 conference reports and papers published in national scientific journals.

Aleksandar P. S. Milovanovic

Aleksandar P. S. Milovanovic, full professor at the Occupational Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, University of Belgrade. Area of research: occupational medicine, radiation protection. Author of 46 scientific papers published in international scientific journals and more than 50 conference reports and papers published in national scientific journals.