Individual Differences in DNA Repair Capacities in Man

After metabolic activation of benzo[a]pyrene to the 7,8-dihydrodiol- 9,10-epoxide, this ultimate carcinogen preferentially binds to the exocyclic amino group of guanine. In order to investigate possible interindividual differenes in the capacity of repair of the DNA adducts formed from benzo[a]- pyrene 7,8-dihydrodiol 9,10-epoxide, their persistence in freshly isolated lymphocytes of several donors was studied. The results show a surprisingly large interindividual variation in DNA adduct formation and their persistence in freshly isolated lymphocytes. This range included several individuals with an apparent complete lack of repair capability for these adducts. Compared with controls, smoker…