Research Article

Persistent Increased Frequency of Genomic Instability in Women Diagnosed with Breast Cancer: Before, during, and after Treatments

Table 3

DNA damage and cell death evaluated using micronucleus test in buccal in patients with breast cancer before, during, and after treatment and nonexposed control.

ParametersControlPatients
Before treatmentaChemotherapybBefore radiotherapycRadiotherapydAfter radiotherapye

DNA damage
Micronucleus1.76 ± 1.303.93 ± 1.50f4.00 ± 1.14h5.53 ± 2.77h7.60 ± 3.19h, i8.16 ± 3.69h, i
Buds2.43 ± 1.712.56 ± 1.591.90 ± 1.182.96 ± 2.554.06 ± 2.726.06 ± 3.37h, i, and j
Binucleated cells5.33 ± 2.237.16 ± 4.999.93 ± 3.42g9.10 ± 6.1714.80 ± 16.75g, i18.40 ± 17.03h, i
Cell death
Condensed chromatin + karyorrhectic cells195.50 ± 112.50272.80 ± 105.10412.50 ± 110.50h, i340.80 ± 200.90389.70 ± 228.8g457.40 ± 276.00h
Pyknotic cells1.70 ± 3.4014.50 ± 5.50h16.97 ± 4.99h27.90 ± 35.20g35.40 ± 37.50h, i52.40 ± 52.3h, i
Karyolitic cells53.80 ± 38.6097.70 ± 63.80f63.07 ± 23.30121.50 ± 99.90f163.50 ± 126.00h226.80 ± 229.00h

Values represent the mean ± SD of 2000 buccal cells analyzed. aPatient at the time of diagnosis; b3 weeks after beginning chemotherapy; cBefore radiotherapy and after chemotherapy; d3 weeks after beginning radiotherapy; e21 days after the end of radiotherapy; fSignificant at ; g; h in relation to control group. iSignificant at in relation to the group: before treatment. jSignificant at in relation to the group: radiotherapy (ANOVA, Kruskal-Wallis).