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Cell-Free DNA Integrity Analysis in Urine Samples
07:58

Cell-Free DNA Integrity Analysis in Urine Samples

Published on: January 5, 2017

Urinary biomarkers and the rate of DNA damage in carcinogenesis and anticarcinogenesis

M G Simic1

  • 1Pharmacology and Toxicology Department, School of Pharmacy, University of Maryland, Baltimore 21201.

Mutation Research
|June 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Oxidative damage to DNA generates biomarkers like thymidine glycol and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine excreted in urine. These urinary biomarkers aid in early cancer diagnostics and assessing dietary or environmental factors.

Area of Science:

  • Biochemistry
  • Molecular Biology
  • Toxicology

Background:

  • Endogenous oxidative processes generate reactive species like hydrogen peroxide and hydroxyl radicals.
  • These reactive species can damage DNA, leading to various oxidative products.
  • Thymidine glycol (Tg) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-dRG-OH) are specific DNA damage products.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review approaches for measuring urinary biomarkers of DNA damage.
  • To highlight the utility of urinary biomarkers in assessing oxidative stress.
  • To establish the role of these biomarkers in early diagnostics and risk assessment.

Main Methods:

  • Excision repair mechanisms process damaged DNA.
  • Specific DNA damage products are excreted in urine.
  • Measurement techniques for urinary biomarkers are reviewed.

Main Results:

  • Thymidine glycol (Tg) and 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-dRG-OH) are key urinary biomarkers.
  • These biomarkers reflect in vivo DNA damage.
  • Urinary levels correlate with oxidative processes.

Conclusions:

  • Urinary biomarkers like Tg and 8-dRG-OH are valuable for DNA damage dosimetry.
  • These biomarkers support the rate-of-damage hypothesis in carcinogenesis.
  • They enable early diagnostics and assessment of carcinogenic/anticarcinogenic factors.

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