Assessment of cytogenetic effect of antiblastic therapy by means of micronucleus assay in exfoliated epithelial cells

Literature data concerning possibility to use micronuclei (MN) level in exfoliated epithelial cells of patients under radio-and chemotherapy as a biomarker of cytogenetic effect are presented and discussed. The number of MN in buccal cells of patients under chemotherapy are very few and contradictory. Significant dose-dependent increment of MN in tumor and normal epithelial cells due to radiotherapy of cancer patients was shown by almost all investigators. Evaluation of MN induced by radiotherapy in exfoliated tumor cells can potentially identify radiosensitivity of tumors and the treatment outcome after the first fractions of irradiation. MN assay is almost completely non-invasive and easily done in accessible tumors (oral cavity and uterine cervix).