DNA DAMAGE IN PATIENTS OF CARCINOMA BREAST A CLINICAL STUDY BY USING COMET ASSAY

35 cases of 27-68years old breast cancer individuals and 15 female individuals of FDFRS formed the material for the current study. An equal number of normal healthy females controls were also included to investigate the extent of DNA damaged in cases, FDFRs and controls. 'Comet assay' was done by conventional methods with slight modifications. For Comet metrics, a Trinocular research microscope, Nikkon Optiphot model with automatic photomicrograph attachment was used. Thus quantification of the DNA damage was done by measuring comet tail length in all the three groups (cases, FDFRs and controls). There was significant increase in the mean comet tail length from controls to FDFRs (p<0.0001) and from FDFRs to cases (p<0.0001). In other words the DNA damage significantly increased from controls to FDFRs and from FDFRs to cases. It was also observed that among various stages of cases the mean comet tail length increased significantly from stage IIA to stage III B. Mean comet tail length was found to be increased significantly in the advanced stage of carcinomas, i.e. stage III B followed by stage III A and II A. The FDFRs of breast carcinoma individuals showed significant level of DNA damage. This may be used as a marker/tool for the identification of the diseased condition which gets manifested in families.