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In the present review we addressed the determination of DNA damage induced by small-molecule carcinogens, considered their persistence in DNA and mutagenicity in in vitro and in vivo systems over a period of 30 years. The review spans from the investigation of the role of DNA damage in the cascade of chemical carcinogenesis. In the nineties, this concept evolved into the biomonitoring studies comprising multiple biomarkers that not only reflected DNA/chromosomal damage, but also the potential of the organism for biotransformation/elimination of various xenobiotics. Since first years of the new millennium, dynamic system of DNA repair and host susceptibility factors started to appear in studies and a considerable knowledge has been accumulated on carcinogens and their role in carcinogenesis. It was understood that the final biological links bridging the arising DNA damage and cancer onset remain to be elucidated. In further years the community of scientists learnt that cancer is a multifactorial disease evolving over several decades of individual´s life. Moreover, DNA damage and DNA repair are inseparable players also in treatment of malignant diseases, but affect substantially other processes, such as degeneration. Functional monitoring of DNA repair pathways and DNA damage response may cast some light on above aspects. Very little is currently known about the relationship between telomere homeostasis and DNA damage formation and repair. DNA damage/repair in genomic and mitochondrial DNA and crosstalk between these two entities emerge as a new interesting topic., Competing Interests: Declaration of Competing Interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Background: The literature on associations of circulating concentrations of minerals and vitamins with risk of colorectal cancer is limited and inconsistent. Evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) to support the efficacy of dietary modification or nutrient supplementation for colorectal cancer prevention is also limited., Objectives: To complement observational and RCT findings, we investigated associations of genetically predicted concentrations of 11 micronutrients (β-carotene, calcium, copper, folate, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, selenium, vitamin B-6, vitamin B-12, and zinc) with colorectal cancer risk using Mendelian randomization (MR)., Methods: Two-sample MR was conducted using 58,221 individuals with colorectal cancer and 67,694 controls from the Genetics and Epidemiology of Colorectal Cancer Consortium, Colorectal Cancer Transdisciplinary Study, and Colon Cancer Family Registry. Inverse variance-weighted MR analyses were performed with sensitivity analyses to assess the impact of potential violations of MR assumptions., Results: Nominally significant associations were noted for genetically predicted iron concentration and higher risk of colon cancer [ORs per SD (ORSD): 1.08; 95% CI: 1.00, 1.17; P value = 0.05] and similarly for proximal colon cancer, and for vitamin B-12 concentration and higher risk of colorectal cancer (ORSD: 1.12; 95% CI: 1.03, 1.21; P value = 0.01) and similarly for colon cancer. A nominally significant association was also noted for genetically predicted selenium concentration and lower risk of colon cancer (ORSD: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.96, 1.00; P value = 0.05) and similarly for distal colon cancer. These associations were robust to sensitivity analyses. Nominally significant inverse associations were observed for zinc and risk of colorectal and distal colon cancers, but sensitivity analyses could not be performed. None of these findings survived correction for multiple testing. Genetically predicted concentrations of β-carotene, calcium, copper, folate, magnesium, phosphorus, and vitamin B-6 were not associated with disease risk., Conclusions: These results suggest possible causal associations of circulating iron and vitamin B-12 (positively) and selenium (inversely) with risk of colon cancer., (© The Author(s) 2021. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the American Society for Nutrition.)

Nonspecific structural chromosomal aberrations (CAs) can be found at around 1% of circulating lymphocytes from healthy individuals but the frequency may be higher after exposure to carcinogenic chemicals or radiation. The frequency of CAs has been measured in occupational monitoring and an increased frequency of CAs has also been associated with cancer risk. Alterations in DNA damage repair and telomere maintenance are thought to contribute to the formation of CAs, which include chromosome type of aberrations and chromatid type of aberrations. In the present study, we used the result of our published genome-wide association studies to extract data on 153 DNA repair genes from 866 nonsmoking persons who had no known occupational exposure to genotoxic substances. Considering an arbitrary cut-off level of P< 5 × 10 -3 , single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) tagging 22 DNA repair genes were significantly associated with CAs and they remained significant at P < 0.05 when adjustment for multiple comparisons was done by the Binomial Sequential Goodness of Fit test. Nucleotide excision repair pathway genes showed most associations with 6 genes. Among the associated genes were several in which mutations manifest CA phenotype, including Fanconi anemia, WRN, BLM and genes that are important in maintaining genome stability, as well as PARP2 and mismatch repair genes. RPA2 and RPA3 may participate in telomere maintenance through the synthesis of the C strand of telomeres. Errors in NHEJ1 function may lead to translocations. The present results show associations with some genes with known CA phenotype and suggest other pathways with mechanistic rationale for the formation of CAs in healthy nonsmoking population., (Copyright © 2021 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Genomic instability is a characteristic of a majority of human malignancies. Chromosomal instability is a common form of genomic instability that can be caused by defects in mitotic checkpoint genes. Chromosomal aberrations in peripheral blood are also indicative of genotoxic exposure and potential cancer risk. We evaluated associations between inherited genetic variants in 33 mitotic checkpoint genes and the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in the presence and absence of environmental genotoxic exposure. Associations with both chromosome and chromatid type of aberrations were evaluated in two cohorts of healthy individuals, namely an exposed and a reference group consisting of 607 and 866 individuals, respectively. Binary logistic and linear regression analyses were performed for the association studies. Bonferroni-corrected significant p-value was 5 × 10 -4 for 99 tests based on the number of analyzed genes and phenotypes. In the reference group the most prominent associations were found with variants in CCNB1, a master regulator of mitosis, and in genes involved in kinetochore function, including CENPH and TEX14, whereas in the exposed group the main association was found with variants in TTK, also an important gene in kinetochore function. How the identified variants may affect the fidelity of mitotic checkpoint remains to be investigated, however, the present study suggests that genetic variation may partly explain interindividual variation in the formation of CAs., (Copyright © 2020 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Objectives: Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a major health burden. Although screening is recommended and considered beneficial, further data on its positive effects are needed for worldwide implementation., Study Design: The aim of our national multicentre prospective observational study was to reveal and document clinicopathological differences in CRC diagnosed by screening and presented by disease symptoms as well as assess the efficiency of the screening programme in the Czech Republic., Methods: Between March 2013 and September 2015, a total of 265 patients were enrolled in 12 gastroenterology centres across the Czech Republic. Patients were divided into screening and symptomatic groups and compared for pathology status and clinical characteristics. Screening was defined as a primary screening colonoscopy or a colonoscopy after a positive faecal occult blood test in an average-risk population., Results: The distribution of CRC stages was significantly (statistically and clinically) favourable in the screening group (predominance of stages 0, I and II) compared with the non-screening group (P < 0.001). The presence of distant and local metastases was significantly less frequent in the screening group than in the symptomatic group (P < 0.001). Patients in the screening group had a higher probability of radical surgery (R0) than those diagnosed based on symptoms (P < 0.001). Systemic palliative treatment was indicated in two patients in the screening group compared with 23 patients in the non-screening group (P = 0.018)., Conclusion: CRC diagnosed by screening disclosed less advanced clinicopathological characteristics and results in patients with a higher probability of radical surgery (R0) than diagnoses established based on symptoms, with subsequent management differing accordingly between both groups. These results advocate the implementation of a suitable worldwide screening programme., (Copyright © 2020 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd.. All rights reserved.)

The first-line chemotherapy of colorectal cancer (CRC), besides surgery, comprises administration of 5-Fluorouracil (5FU). Apart from cytotoxic effect on cancer cells, 5FU may also cause adverse side effects. Ganoderma Lucidum (GLC) is a mushroom used in Traditional Eastern Medicine. We propose that natural compounds, particularly GLC extracts, may sensitize cancer cells to conventional chemotherapeutics. This combination therapy could lead to more selective cancer cell death and may improve the response to the therapy and diminish the adverse effects of anticancer drugs. Here we demonstrate that GLC induced oxidative DNA damage selectively in colorectal cancer cell lines, whereas it protected non-malignant cells from the accumulation of reactive oxygen species. Accumulation of DNA damage caused sensitization of cancer cells to 5FU resulting in improved anticancer effect of 5FU. The results obtained in colorectal cell lines were confirmed in in vivo study: GLC co-treatment with 5FU increased the survival of treated mice and reduced the tumor volume in comparison with group treated with 5FU alone. Combination of conventional chemotherapeutics and natural compounds is a promising approach, which may reduce the effective curative dose of anticancer drugs, suppress their adverse effects and ultimately lead to better quality of life of CRC patients., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The last decade witnessed an increase in the use of comet assay for DNA damage monitoring in cancer patients and controls. Apart from case-control studies, reports described the determination of DNA damage prior to (baseline value) and after chemo-/radiotherapy, the treatment resulted in significantly elevated DNA damage. However, studies on DNA damage as a factor reflecting cancer prognosis and therapy prediction are scarce. In most cases, DNA damage was analysed in surrogate tissues. The data on DNA damage are available for 17 types of cancer. The reviewed data unambiguously pinpoint the usefulness of the comet assay in human cancer research due to its sensitivity and cost-effectiveness in evaluating DNA damage associated with the disease and with the treatment. DNA repair capacity (DRC) represents a complex marker for functional evaluation of multigene DNA repair processes in cancer onset with future prospects in personalized prevention and/or cancer treatment. A comparison between studies and more general conclusions are precluded by a variable design of the studies and a lack of standard protocol for both DNA damage and DRC determination. Since cancer is a heterogeneous complex disease, numerous points have to be considered: a) DNA damage and DRC measured in surrogate/target tissues, b) changes in the levels of DNA damage and DRC may be a cause or a consequence of the disease, c) changes in DRC alter sensitivity of tumour cells to antineoplastic drugs, d) one time point-sampling of patients provides insufficient information on the role of DNA damage and its repair in carcinogenesis. Finally, systemic cancer therapy is targeted at DNA damage and its repair. A proper understanding of these processes is a key precondition for the optimisation of therapy regimens, prediction of therapeutic response and prognosis in cancer patients., (Copyright © 2019 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

Human malignancies are often hallmarked with genomic instability, which itself is also considered a causative event in malignant transformation. Genomic instability may manifest itself as genetic changes in the nucleotide sequence of DNA, or as structural or numerical changes of chromosomes. Unrepaired or insufficiently repaired DNA double-strand breaks, as well as telomere shortening, are important contributors in the formation of structural chromosomal aberrations (CAs). In the present review, we discuss potential mechanisms behind the formation of CAs and their relation to cancer. Based on our own studies, we also illustrate how inherited genetic variation may modify the frequency and types of CAs occurring in humans. Recently, we published a series of studies on variations in genes relevant to maintaining genomic integrity, such as those encoding xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes, DNA repair, the tumour suppressor TP53, the spindle assembly checkpoint, and cyclin D1 (CCND1). While individually genetic variation in these genes exerted small modulating effects, in interactions they were associated with CA frequencies in peripheral blood lymphocytes of healthy volunteers. Moreover, we observed opposite associations between the CCND1 splice site polymorphism rs9344 G870A and the frequency of CAs compared to their association with translocation t(11,14). We discuss the functional consequences of the CCND1 gene in interplay with DNA damage response and DNA repair during malignant transformation. Our review summarizes existing evidence that gene variations in relevant cellular pathways modulate the frequency of CAs, predominantly in a complex interaction. More functional/mechanistic studies elucidating these observations are required. Several questions emerge, such as the role of CAs in malignancies with respect to a particular phenotype and heterogeneity, the formation of CAs during the process of malignant transformation, and the formation of CAs in individual types of lymphocytes in relation to the immune response., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

The DNA-damaging agent 5-fluorouracil represents the most commonly used chemotherapeutic drug for colorectal cancer patients. DNA lesions associated with 5-fluorouracil therapy are primarily repaired by base excision repair (BER) and mismatch repair (MMR) pathways. Published evidence suggests that the individual DNA repair capacity (DRC) may affect a patient's prognosis and response to chemotherapy. With this in mind, we designed a prospective study of which the main aim was to investigate BER-DRC in relation to 5-fluorouracil response as potential predictive and/or prognostic biomarker. BER-DRC was supplemented by a microsatellite instability (MSI) analysis which represents an indirect marker of MMR activity in the tumor. All parameters were measured in paired samples of tumor tissue and non-malignant adjacent mucosa of 123 incident colon cancer patients. Our results indicate that BER-DRC in non-malignant adjacent mucosa was positively associated with overall survival (P = 0.007) and relapse-free survival (P = 0.04). Additionally, in multivariate analysis, good therapy responders in TNM stage II and III with an elevated BER-DRC in mucosa exhibited better overall survival. Moreover, the overall survival of these patients was even better in the presence of a decreased BER-DRC in tumor tissue. The ratio of BER-DRC in tumor tissue over BER-DRC in mucosa positively correlated with advanced tumor stage (P = 0.003). With respect to MSI, we observed that MSI-high tumors were mostly localized in proximal colon; however, in our cohort, the MSI status affected neither patients' prognosis nor survival. In summary, the results of the present study suggest that the level of BER-DRC is associated with patients' survival. BER-DRC represents a potential prognostic biomarker, applicable for prediction of therapy response and useful for individual approach to patients., (Copyright © 2018. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the European Union and in the USA, but little is known about its genetic susceptibility. The PANcreatic Disease ReseArch (PANDoRA) consortium was established to unite the efforts of different research groups; its aim is to create a large bio-database to uncover new genetic factors for pancreatic cancer risk, response to treatment, and patient survival. So far 2220 cases of pancreatic adenocarcinoma, a smaller number of cases of endocrine pancreatic tumours (n=86), chronic pancreatitis (n=272) and 3847 healthy controls have been collected. As a collective effort of the consortium, SNPs associated with pancreatic adenocarcinoma risk from a genome-wide association study performed in Caucasians were replicated. The possibility that the same genetic polymorphisms may influence patient survival as well was also addressed. This collective effort is particularly important for pancreatic cancer because it is a relatively rare disease for which little is known about aetiopathogenesis and risk factors. The recruitment of additional collaborators and partner institutions is continuously on-going., (Copyright © 2012 Editrice Gastroenterologica Italiana S.r.l. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Polymorphic variants in genes involved in one-carbon metabolism, in particular of dietary folate, may modulate the risk for colorectal cancer through aberrant DNA-methylation and altered nucleotide synthesis and repair. In the present study, we have assessed the association of six polymorphisms and relative haplotypes in the MTHFR gene (rs1801133 and rs1801131) and in the MTRR gene (rs1801394, rs1532268, rs162036, and rs10380) with the risk for colorectal cancer in 666 patients and 1377 controls from the Czech Republic. We found that the 677 C>T polymorphism in the MTHFR gene significantly decreased the risk for colorectal cancer in homozygous carriers of the variant allele (OR, 0.58; 95% CI, 0.39-0.87). Also, we noted a significantly different distribution of genotypes between cases and controls for the 66A>G polymorphism in the MTRR gene. In particular, homozygous carriers of the G-containing allele of this polymorphism were at an increased risk for colorectal cancer (OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.04-1.85). Haplotype analysis of the two MTHFR polymorphisms showed a moderate difference in the distribution of the TA haplotype between cases and controls. In comparison to the most common haplotype (CA), the TA haplotype was associated with a decreased risk for colorectal cancer (OR, 0.84; 95% CI, 0.71-0.99). No difference in the distribution between cases and controls was observed for the haplotypes based on the four polymorphisms in the MTRR gene. The present study suggests that the 677TT genotype and the TA haplotype in the MTHFR gene may also have a role in colorectal cancer risk in the Czech population, indicating the importance of genes involved in folate metabolism with respect to cancer risk. For MTRR, additional studies on larger populations are needed to clarify the possible role of variation in this gene in colorectal carcinogenesis., (Copyright © 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)

This study investigated nucleic acid oxidation associated with styrene exposure, mRNA expression levels of hOGG1 gene and the role of the genetic polymorphism Ser326Cys of human 8-oxoguanine DNA N-glycosylase 1 (hOGG1) in 60 styrene-exposed workers and 50 unexposed clerks. Biomarkers of exposure (styrene in blood, mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids and 4-vinylphenol in urine) and urinary biomarkers of nucleic acid oxidation, namely 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (U-8-oxodGuo), 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanosine (U-8-oxoGuo) and 8-oxo-7,8-dihydroguanine (U-8-oxoGua) were determined by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry. The levels of 8-oxodGuo adduct and 2'-deoxyguanosine (dGuo) were measured by HPLC in DNA from white blood cells (WBC). Genomic DNA and RNA from blood samples were used to characterize the Ser326Cys polymorphism and the mRNA expression levels of the hOGG1 gene, respectively, by PCR-based methods. Exposed workers showed lower values of 8-oxodGuo/10(5) dGuo ratio in WBC-DNA but higher concentrations of U-8-oxoGuo compared to controls (p=0.002 and p=0.008, respectively, t-test for independent samples). In the whole group, all urinary biomarkers of nucleic acid oxidation correlated with both the sum of mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids (rho>0.33, p<0.0001) and 4-vinylphenol (rho>0.29, p<0.001), whereas 8-oxodGuo/10(5) dGuo in WBC showed a negative correlation with exposure parameters (rho<-0.24, p<0.02). Subjects bearing the hOGG1 Ser/Ser genotype showed lower values of 8-oxodGuo/10(5) dGuo in WBC than those with at least one variant Cys allele (0.34+/-0.16 vs 0.45+/-0.21, p=0.008). In the subgroup of hOGG1 Ser/Ser subjects, laminators showed lower levels of WBC 8-oxodGuo/10(5) dGuo ratio and significantly higher concentrations of U-8-oxoGua than controls (p=0.07 and p=0.01, respectively, t-test for independent samples). Interestingly, workers showed higher levels of hOGG1 expression compared to controls (p<0.0005). Styrene exposure seems to be associated with oxidation damage to nucleic acids, particularly to RNA and with an induction of the BER system.

The most frequent Nijmegen breakage syndrome (NBS)-causing mutation is a 5-base pair deletion in gene coding for nibrin (NBN 657del5), which results in a non-fully functional protein product and is particularly frequent in Central and Eastern Europe. Recent studies have investigated whether NBN 657del5 carriage may predispose to an increased risk of different types of cancer. The Czech Republic has one of the highest incidences of colorectal cancer in the world as well as high incidence of NBS. To assess whether NBN 657del5 associates with an increased risk of sporadic colorectal cancer, we have screened 771 colorectal cancer patients, 614 controls with negative colonoscopy and 818 healthy blood donors from the Czech Republic. There were no significant differences between the frequencies of heterozygous carriers among the three groups. The present results do not provide any evidence that the exceeding risk of CRC in this population is attributable to the high frequency of heterozygous carriage of the NBN 657del5.

The Czech Republic presents one of the highest incidences of colorectal cancer in the world. We genotyped 10 single nucleotide polymorphisms in five DNA mismatch repair genes in 614 colorectal cancer cases and 614 matched controls from this country. The carriers of T-allele of the hMSH6-556G>T polymorphism were at increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR 1.29; 95% CI 1.02-1.62). The stratification of data showed that risk associated with the polymorphism was confined to rectal cancer (OR 1.42; 95% CI 1.03-1.95). The A-allele of the Ex1-145G>A polymorphism in the hMSH6 gene was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer (OR 0.76; 95% CI 0.60-0.98). The C-allele of the IVS4-101G>C polymorphism in hMSH6 was associated with an increased risk of colon cancer (OR 1.34; 95% CI 1.03-1.74). The carriers of the variant allele for the polymorphism IVS9-1406C>T in hMLH1 exhibited a decreased risk of rectal cancer (OR 0.71; 95% CI 0.51-0.98). We observed a differential distribution of haplotypes based on three hMSH6 polymorphisms (-556G>T-Ex1-145G>A-IVS4-101G>C) in the cases and controls (global P=0.02). The TAG haplotype was associated with a decreased risk of colorectal cancer (OR 0.74; 95% CI 0.59-0.92), whereas the most frequent haplotype GGG was associated with increased risk of rectal cancer (OR 1.32; 95% CI 1.05-1.65). However, multiple hypotheses testing diminishes a statistical significance of above associations. Our data suggest a limited role for the investigated individual variants in mismatch repair genes for the susceptibility to the disease. The haplotypes covering hMSH6 gene may, however, be involved in risk modulation in this population.

ATP-binding cassette (ABC) transporters actively export a wide variety of molecules from cells, contributing to reduce the local cellular burden of toxic compounds. ABCG2/BCRP is abundantly expressed in epithelial cells of the intestine and colon. The expression and activity of this transporter in the gut differ between individuals, due at least in part to genetic polymorphisms, which may thus affect the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). We selected 15 tagging SNPs, covering all the known genetic variation of the gene, and typed them in 680 CRC cases and 593 controls. We found that heterozygous carriers of the minor alleles of SNPs rs2622621 and rs1481012 had a decreased risk of CRC, respectively, with odds ratios of 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.56-0.94; P(value)=0.017), and 0.72 (95% CI 0.53-0.97; P(value)=0.03). Thus, we found no strong and clearcut association between ABCG2 polymorphisms and CRC risk. To our knowledge this is the first report on ABCG2 and CRC risk.

We evaluated chromosomal aberrations in lymphocytes of 177 workers exposed to xenobiotics in a tire plant and in 172 controls, in relation to their genetic background. Nine polymorphisms in genes encoding biotransformation enzymes and nine polymorphisms in genes involved in main DNA repair pathways were investigated for possible modulation of chromosomal damage. Chromosomal aberration frequencies were the highest among exposed smokers and the lowest in non-smoking unexposed individuals (2.5+/-1.8% vs. 1.7+/-1.2%, respectively). The differences between groups (ANOVA) were borderline significant (F=2.6, P=0.055). Chromosomal aberrations were higher in subjects with GSTT1-null (2.4+/-1.7%) than in those with GSTT1-plus genotype (1.8+/-1.4%; F=7.2, P=0.008). Considering individual groups, this association was significant in smoking exposed workers (F=4.4, P=0.040). Individuals with low activity EPHX1 genotype exhibited significantly higher chromosomal aberrations (2.3+/-1.6%) in comparison with those bearing medium (1.7+/-1.2%) and high activity genotype (1.5+/-1.2%; F=4.7, P=0.010). Both chromatid- and chromosome-type aberration frequencies were mainly affected by exposure and smoking status. Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that frequencies of chromatid-type aberrations were modulated by NBS1 Glu185Gln (OR 4.26, 95%CI 1.38-13.14, P=0.012), and to a moderate extent, by XPD Lys751Gln (OR 0.16, 95%CI 0.02-1.25, P=0.081) polymorphisms. Chromosome-type aberrations were lowest in individuals bearing the EPHX1 genotype conferring the high activity (OR 0.38, 95%CI 0.15-0.98, P=0.045). Present results show that exposed individuals in the tire production, who smoke, exhibit higher chromosomal aberrations frequencies, and the extent of chromosomal damage may additionally be modified by relevant polymorphisms.

Colorectal cancer represents a complex disease where susceptibility may be influenced by genetic polymorphisms in the DNA repair system. In the present study we investigated the role of nine single nucleotide polymorphisms in eight DNA repair genes on the risk of colorectal cancer in a hospital-based case-control population (532 cases and 532 sex- and age-matched controls). Data analysis showed that the variant allele homozygotes for the Asn148Glu polymorphism in the APE1 gene were at a statistically non-significant increased risk of colorectal cancer. The risk was more pronounced for colon cancer (odds ratio, OR: 1.50; 95% confidence interval, CI: 1.01-2.22; p=0.05). The data stratification showed increased risk of colorectal cancer in the age group 64-86 years in both individuals heterozygous (OR: 1.79; 95% CI: 1.04-3.07; p=0.04) and homozygous (OR: 2.57; 95% CI: 1.30-5.06; p=0.007) for the variant allele of the APE1 Asn148Glu polymorphism. Smokers homozygous for the variant allele of the hOGG1 Ser326Cys polymorphism showed increased risk of colorectal cancer (OR: 4.17; 95% CI: 1.17-15.54; p=0.03). The analysis of binary genotype combinations showed increased colorectal cancer risk in individuals simultaneously homozygous for the variant alleles of APE1 Asn148Glu and hOGG1 Ser326Cys (OR: 6.37; 95% CI: 1.40-29.02; p=0.02). Considering the subtle effect of the DNA repair polymorphisms on the risk of colorectal cancer, exploration of gene-gene and gene-environmental interactions with a large sample size with sufficient statistical power are recommended.

Genotoxic effects related to exposure to styrene have been a matter of investigation for many years by employing markers of exposure, effect and susceptibility. The role of individual DNA-repair capacity in response to exposure to styrene may explain the controversial results so far obtained, but it is still scarcely explored. In the present study, we measured capacity to repair oxidative DNA damage in cell extracts obtained from 24 lamination workers occupationally exposed to styrene and 15 unexposed controls. The capacity to repair oxidative DNA damage was determined by use of a modified comet assay, as follows: HeLa cells, pre-treated with photosensitizer and irradiated with a halogen lamp in order to induce 7,8-dihydroxy-8-oxoguanine, were incubated with cell extracts from mononuclear leukocytes of each subject. The level of strand breaks reflects the removal of 7,8-dihydroxy-8-oxoguanine from substrate DNA by the enzymatic extract. In styrene-exposed subjects a moderate, non-significant increase in oxidative DNA repair was observed. Stratification for sex and smoking habit showed that unexposed males (P=0.010) and unexposed smokers (P=0.037) exhibited higher DNA-repair rates. The repair capacity did not correlate with parameters of styrene exposure and biomarkers of genotoxic effects (DNA strand breaks, N1-styrene-adenine DNA adducts, chromosomal aberrations and mutant frequencies at the HPRT locus). Significantly higher levels of DNA-repair capacity were observed in carriers of GSTM1-plus, compared to those with a deletion in GSTM1. The DNA-repair capacity was significantly lower in individuals with variant Gln/Gln genotype in XRCC1 Arg399Gln than in those with heterozygous Arg/Gln and wild-type Arg/Arg genotypes. Significantly lower repair capacity was also found in individuals with the wild-type Lys/Lys genotype in XPC Lys939Gln as compared with those homozygous for the Gln/Gln variant genotype.

We investigated single-strand breaks and endonuclease III-sensitive sites in DNA along with gamma-irradiation-specific DNA-repair activity in hepatocytes and frequencies of micronuclei in polychromatic bone-marrow erythrocytes of male NMRI mice (2 months old, weight 30-35 g) during sub-acute inhalation exposure to 1,3-butadiene (28 days, 500 mg/m3) and up to 28 days after the exposure. Concentrations of 1,3-butadiene in blood, an indicator of internal exposure, moderately increased during the exposure period. The most interesting finding was that gamma-irradiation-specific DNA-repair activity gradually increased during exposure, being significantly higher compared with control levels on days 7 and 28 of exposure (P = 0.005 and 0.035, respectively), reaching a maximum on day 1 after the termination of exposure (P = 0.003) and then returning to control levels. A significant correlation between gamma-irradiation-specific DNA-repair activity and the concentration of 1,3-butadiene in blood (R = 0.866, P = 0.050) supports a possible induction of DNA-repair activity by the exposure to 1,3-butadiene and formation of its metabolites. The initial increase in micronucleus frequency (micronuclei per 1000 cells) in the exposed mice continuously decreased from 20.4 +/- 5.1 (day 3) to 15.1 +/- 3.2 (day 28) within the exposure period, and subsequently from 12.4 +/- 5.1 to 4.6 +/- 1.6 in the period following termination of the 1,3-butadiene exposure, while micronucleus frequencies in control animals were significantly lower (from 1.7 +/- 1.5 to 4.2 +/- 0.8).

We investigated in a central European population, the association between genetic polymorphisms in several genes coding for xenobiotic metabolizing enzymes (CYP1A1, CYP2E1, EPHX1, GSTP1, GSTM1 and GSTT1) and in DNA repair genes (XPD, XPG, XPC and XRCC1) and the levels of single-strand breaks (SSBs) and SSB endonuclease III sensitive sites (endoIII sites) in peripheral blood lymphocytes. No significant differences in the mean levels of SSBs and endoIII sites after stratification for main confounders and occupational exposure were observed in the studied population. Significantly higher levels of SSBs were observed in individuals bearing the wild-type alleles (AA) (0.75+/-0.51SSB/10(9)Da) and heterozygous (AC) genotypes (0.67+/-0.49SSB/10(9)Da) compared to those with homozygous XPD (CC) genotype (0.43+/-0.28SSB/10(9)Da, P=0.033). A moderate increase in the levels of SSBs was also found in individuals with the homozygous XPG exon 15 wild type (GG) and heterozygous (GC) genotypes in comparison to those with the homozygous (CC) genotype (P=0.066) and in individuals with low activity EPHX1 genotype in comparison to those with high activity genotype. Nevertheless, these differences were not statistically significant. No other significant association was found. When gene-gene interactions were evaluated, a combination of EPHX1 activity genotypes with that of either XPD or XPG significantly (P=0.003 and 0.016, respectively) modulated SSB levels resulting in a three-fold difference between the "protective" and the "adverse" genotype-combinations. Almost three-fold differences in SSB levels were found between the "protective" and the "adverse" genotype-combinations of EPHX1 activity genotype and GSTM1 or GSTT1 genotypes, respectively. In conclusion, our results suggest a relation between markers of genotoxicity and polymorphisms in genes coding for xenobiotic metabolizing and DNA repair enzymes as well as a modulating effect of combinations of these polymorphisms.

We evaluated our data on the occupational exposure to styrene in lamination workers. The battery of parameters included markers of external and internal exposure and biomarkers of biological effects and susceptibility. DNA repair capacities have been determined in both exposed and control groups. Styrene workplace concentration significantly correlated with styrene concentration in blood, exhaled air and urinary mandelic acid. Haemoglobin and O(6)-styrene oxide (SO)-guanine DNA adducts were significantly higher in exposed subjects as compared to controls and correlated with exposure parameters. In styrene-exposed workers 1-SO-adenine DNA adducts were detected (2.6 per 10(9) dNp), while in controls these adducts were below the detection limit. 1-SO-adenine adduct levels were affected by both acute and cumulative exposure (P=0.001, F=86.0 and P=0.017, F=59.0, respectively) and associated with cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) polymorphisms (R(2)=0.442). Mutant frequencies (MF) at the hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT) locus appeared to accumulate with exposure over time and were associated with glutathione S-transferase P1 (GSTP1) polymorphism. DNA repair capacity increased with the exposure, except for the group exposed to the highest styrene concentration. In this particular group, increased DNA repair capacity to remove oxidative DNA damage was found.

A comprehensive approach to evaluate genotoxic effects induced by styrene exposure was employed in 44 hand-lamination workers in comparison with 18 unexposed controls. The acquired data on single-strand breaks in DNA (SSBs), frequency of chromosomal aberrations and HPRT mutant frequency in peripheral blood lymphocytes were compared to the results on genotyping of some of the xenobiotic-metabolising enzymes (CYP1A1, CYP2E1, epoxide hydrolase and GSTM1, GSTP1 and GSTT1). Multifactorial regression analysis indicated that SSB in DNA were significantly associated with styrene exposure and with heterozygosity in CYP2E1 (5'-flanking region and intron 6; r(2)=0.614). The frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CA), as analysed by linear multiple regression analysis, significantly correlated with years of employment (P=0.004) and with combinations of epoxide hydrolase (EPHX) genotypes (exon 3, Tyr/His and exon 4, His/Arg), where individuals with low and medium activity EPHX genotypes exhibited higher frequencies of CA than those with high activity genotypes (P=0.044, r(2)=0.563). Moderately higher HPRT mutant frequencies were detected in styrene-exposed individuals (20.2 +/- 25.8 x 10(-6)) as compared to controls (13.3 +/- 6.3 x 10(-6)), but this difference was not significant. ANOVA (in the whole set of data) revealed that mutant frequencies at the HPRT gene were significantly associated with years of employment (F=6.9, P=0.0001), styrene in blood (F=10.1, P=0.0001), and heterozygosity in CYP2E1 (intron 6; F=13.5, P=0.0008) and GSTP1 (exon 5; F=3.6, P=0.038). In conclusion, our present data suggest that analysed biomarkers of DNA damage may be modulated by polymorphic CYP2E1, EPHX and GSTP1. In our study, styrene-specific DNA and haemoglobin adducts are under investigation. Completing these data with the results of genotyping of metabolising enzymes may provide a useful tool for individual genotoxic risk assessment.