Immunological detection and quantification of carcinogen-modified DNA components

Both the detection and quantitation of defined reaction products of chemical carcinogens with DNA, especially at low levels of DNA modification and in small numbers of target cells, require highly sensitive analytical techniques. The sensitivity of radiochromatographic methods is limited by the specific radioactivity of the respective carcinogens and by the relatively large amounts of DNA required for analysis. Furthermore, their application is restricted to experiments with radiolabelled carcinogens synthesized in the laboratory. These shortcomings can be circumvented by the use of high-affinity antibodies specifically directed against DNA components structurally modified by carcinogens, in combination with sensitive immunoassay procedures. Such immunological methodology, using both conventional antisera and monoclonal antibodies, has recently become available and is rapidly being developed further. We review here the properties of the antibodies thus far produced, the techniques applied for their development and characterization, and the immunoassay procedures currently in use. Some examples of the application of the new immunoanalytical methods are given.