Measurement of chromosomal instability and level of DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells of endometrial cancer patients

Abstract Endometrial cancer is one of the most common invasive gynecologic malignancies in developed countries. The aim of this study was to evaluate chromosomal instability and level of DNA damage in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of newly diagnosed endometrial cancer patients in relation to health status (diagnosis), age, histological grade of cancer, residence, smoking, number of pregnancies, miscarriages, and abortions. The analyzed sample consisted of 60 individuals, 30 endometrial cancer patients with an average age of 64.37 ± 7.08, and 30 healthy control women average age of 60.23 ± 11.55. Chromosomal instability was evaluated by the cytokinesis-block micronucleus (CBMN) assay and the level of DNA damage by the single-cell gel electrophoresis (comet) assay in PBMCs. The average frequencies of micronuclei (MNi), nucleoplasmic bridges (NPBs) as well as nuclear buds (NBUDs) were significantly higher in cancer patients compared to controls (p < 0.0005). There was no difference in the nuclear division index (NDI) among the analyzed samples. The comet assay showed that the patients had a significantly increased genetic damage index (GDI) compared with controls (p < 0.0005). Using linear regression analysis, we found that health status (diagnosis) had the strongest influence on the MN frequency as well as GDI (p < 0.0005). Our results indicated that there is a high level of genetic damage in both the level of DNA and the level of chromosomes in the PBMCs of newly diagnosed patients with endometrial cancer, where the frequency and level of damage were significantly affected by health status, grade of cancer, residence, number of pregnancies, miscarriages, and abortions.