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DNA phosphotriesters as indicators of cumulative carcinogen-induced damage

Abstract

RECENT studies on phosphotriesters induced in DNA in vivo by several potent chemical carcinogens have suggested that these lesions are chemically stable and that they are not eliminated by cellular DNA-repair systems2–3. It seemed possible therefore that in long-term carcinogenesis studies the accumulation of phosphotriesters might be used as a measure of the extent of damage to DNA. In a preliminary study rats have been fed continuously with either dimethylnitrosamine or diethylnitrosamine in the drinking water (0.1–5 p.p.m., w/v) and significant concentrations of methyl or ethyl phosphotriesters have been detected in tissue DNA even at the lowest dose.

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SHOOTER, K. DNA phosphotriesters as indicators of cumulative carcinogen-induced damage. Nature 274, 612–614 (1978). https://doi.org/10.1038/274612a0

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