Alcohol consumption is a cause of head and neck cancer, as well as cancer at other sites. Acetaldehyde, ethanol's major metabolite, reacts with DNA to produce adducts, which are critical in the carcinogenic process. We investigated levels of N2-ethylidene-dGuo, the major DNA adduct of acetaldehyde, in DNA from human oral cells and peripheral blood cells at several time points after consumption of increasing alcohol doses. Ten healthy nonsmokers were dosed once a week for three weeks. Mouthwash and blood samples were collected before and at several time points after the dose. N2-Ethylidene-dGuo was measured by LC-ESI-MS/MS. N2-Ethylidene-dGuo levels in oral cells increased as much as 100-fold from baseline within 4 hours after each dose and in a dose-responsive manner (P < 0.001). N2-Ethylidene-dGuo increased significantly after all doses, also in lymphocytes and granulocytes.  However, for these cells there was substantial intra-individual variability, indicating that there are other sources of this adduct in peripheral blood DNA. Our results provide some of the first conclusive evidence linking exposure to a lifestyle carcinogen and kinetics of DNA adduct formation in humans.

Kinetics of DNA adduct formation in the oral cavity and in peripheral blood granulocytes and lymphocytes after drinking alcohol

244th National Meeting (2012)

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.