Journal of Environmental Biology

Chromosomal aberration and micronucleus studies of two

topoisomerase (II) targeting anthracyclines

Fauzia Khan, Asma Farhat Sherwani and Mohammad Afzal*

Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh - 202 002, India

(Received: January 24, 2007; Revised received: July 28, 2007; Re-revised received: September 09, 2007; Accepted: September 16, 2007)

Abstract: Anthracycline antibiotics are widely used in cancer chemotherapy. Doxorubicin and Idarubicin, topoisomerase-targeting anthracyclines, were examined for their effect on chromosomal aberration and micronucleus induction in cultured human lymphocytes employing lymphocyte transformation test and cytokinesis-blocked micronucleus (CBMN) assay. A statistically significant dose-dependent increase in micronucleus frequency (p < 0.001) in binucleated cells was seen as well as a significant increase in chromosomal aberration frequency was also observed for both the drugs. A variety of aberrations were scored including terminal deletions, breaks, gaps, exchanges, fragment formation, ends rejoining, interstitial deletions etc. Nuclear division index was also calculated and showed a cell cycle delay towards higher doses. A number of necrotic and apoptotic cells were also observed at higher concentrations. This confirms the two drugs to be clastogenic and aneugenic.

Key words: Doxorubicin, Idarubicin, Chromosomal aberration assay, CBMN assay

PDF of full length paper is available with author (* zyr056af@rediffmail.com)

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