Detection of aneugenicity and clastogenicity in buccal epithelial cells of pan masala and gutkha users by pan-centromeric FISH analysis

Abstract

Chewing of betel quid, smoking and alcohol consumption are all associated with higher incidences of oral cancer. Genetic damage can be detected by fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) using human centromeric probes. In the present study FISH was performed on buccal epithelial cells of pan masala and gutkha chewers alone with and without additional tobacco smoking and/or alcohol consumption. The study comprised of 1500 male individuals. The present study found the highest frequency of micronuclei without a centromeric region (MN-) among gutkha users who also smoked and drank (P < 0.05). A significant increase in cells having micronuclei with a centromeric region (MN+) was observed among pan masala users who also smoked (P < 0.05). The study reveals that the clastogenic effects of pan masala/gutkha increase with smoking and alcohol consumption, but aneugenic effects were also observed among the pan masala chewers who smoked.