MICRONUCLEAR TEST OF THE BUCCAL EPITHELIUM AS THE SCREENING METHOD IN ONCOLOGY

Objective: Assessment of dependence the number of nuclear anomalies of the buccal epithelium from the localization of malignant neoplasms; evaluation of the effectiveness of the use of the micronuclear test of buccal epithelium as a screening test for malignant neoplasms on the I, II stages. Methods: Two groups of patients in the oncological clinic for malignant neoplasms treated as test subjects: 10 patients from the Department of Head and Neck Pathology; 10 patients from the Gynecology Oncology Department. The control group consisted of 10 people without malignant neoplasms. Collection of materials, making preparations and colouring them with Azur-eosin by Romanovsky-Giemsa was carried out according to a standard method. The frequency of occurrence of cells with each type of nuclear anomalies was counted. Results: It was revealed that the number of nuclear anomalies of patients in the Department of Head and Neck Pathology and Gynecology Oncology Department patients significantly exceeded the control group indicators of the test subjects. This proves the possibility of using a micronuclear test of buccal epithelium for screening in oncology. In addition, the sum of all nuclear aberrations in patients of Gynecology Oncology Department has significantly exceeded this index in patients with head and neck pathology. Thus, it was revealed the inverse correlation between the number of nuclear anomalies in the buccal epithelium and the localization of the pathological process in the immediate vicinity of the buccal epithelium. It is connected probably due to the provoking factors of malignant neoplasms actions, which in the different measure is reflected on structures of the organism and buccal epithelium, in particular. Conclusion: Studies have shown the possibility of using the micronuclear test of buccal epithelium as a screening in oncology. Between the number of nuclear anomalies of buccal epithelium and the proximity of the location of the pathological process was revealed the inverse dependence. The technique is simple in use, non-invasive, and cheap. It can be a new method of early diagnosis of malignant neoplasms. Keywords: Micronuclear test, buccal epithelium, oncology, screening.