[Aromatic amines, oncogenes and cancer of the bladder]

The role of aromatic amines in cancer inducing is mainly connected with their metabolism in the organism. During successive cell changes certain adducts are generated which may bind DNA. Their ability to cause mutations depends on whether a given adduct was generated with a free form or an acetylated amine. Adducts generated with non-acetylated amines are the main cause of mutations, i.e. changes of base in a DNA-coding triplet. Also, an important effect in cancerogenic activity of aromatic hydrocarbons is attributed to recently discovered oncogenes. Changes in oncogene expression may result in proliferations of the cells of the urinary bladder epithelium, which may induce their transformation into neoplastic cells. Diagnostic tests based mainly on cytological studies do not make it possible to detect early changes of the proliferation process in the cells of the urinary bladder epithelium. Only the recently introduced methods using monoclonal antibodies, which facilitate determination of oncogene protein products in organism's fluids, are sensitive indicators of initiating the neoplastic process in the urinary bladder.