IMMUNOLOGICAL METHODS FOR MONITORING HUMAN EXPOSURE TO BENZO[ALPHA]PYRENE AND AFLATOXIN B-1 - MEASUREMENT OF CARCINOGEN ADDUCTS

Immunologic methods have been developed for the measurement of human exposure to environmental and occupational carcinogens by quantitation of carcinogen-DNA or protein adducts. Antibodies recognizing specific adducts have been used in highly sensitive competitive enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA) to detect femtomole levels of adducts in human samples. Antibodies recognizing benzo(a)pyrene diol epoxide-DNA have been used to quantitate adducts in white blood cells of foundry workers and coal tar treated psoriasis patients and in white blood cells and placenta of smokers and nonsmokers. These same antibodies have been used in indirect immunofluorescence staining of tissues of localize adduct formation to specific cell types. Albumin adduct have also been measured in several of these populations. Antibodies recognizing aflatoxin B1-DNA adducts have been used to quantitate adducts in liver tissue from hepatocellular cancer patients. Adduct measurement provides a relevant marker of carcinogen exposure but may also prove useful in identifying individuals at risk for cancer development.