Carcinogen-modified DNA and specific humoral immunity toward carcinogen-DNA adducts. A review

Carcinogenesis is a complex and multistep process starting from initiation to tumor progression. Damage to DNA, induced by the covalent binding of chemical carcinogens on critical DNA segments, reflects exposure and is directly related to tumor formation. For this reason it's very important detect and quantify DNA-adducts by using highly sensitive methods. During the last 30 years sophisticated methods have been developed, in particular immunoassays that have a widespread application in monitoring animal models and human tissues for evidence of carcinogen exposure. In this paper we describe the work done in our laboratory, from the production of antibodies specific for two different carcinogens, 2-Acetylaminofluorene and Benzo[a]pyrene, to their application in chemical carcinogenesis studies. Moreover, we describe as immunological methods can be used for detecting the presence of specific antibodies in sera of exposed individuals.