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Gamma-H2AX Expression as a Biomarker of Carcinogenesis: Applications to Toxicology

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Biomarkers in Toxicology

Abstract

Cancer develops due to the accumulation of genetic and epigenetic changes caused by various factors. An important source of genetic changes is DNA double-strand breaks (DBSs). Radiation, oxidative stress, and carcinogens in the environment cause DNA DSBs. Cells respond to DSBs by phosphorylating histone H2AX to produce γH2AX. In in vitro assays, analysis of γH2AX formation enables detection of genotoxic carcinogens with a high accuracy. In in vivo assays, both genotoxic and non-genotoxic carcinogens can be detected. γH2AX is highly expressed in a variety of human precancerous and cancerous lesions. Here we explore the use of γH2AX formation as a biomarker of human tumorigenesis and as a prognostic marker for several cancers.

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Abbreviations

53BP1:

p53-binding protein 1

ATM:

Ataxia-telangiectasia-mutated

ATR:

ATM and Rad3-related

ATRIP:

ATR-interacting protein

BRCA1:

Breast cancer associated 1

DNA-PK:

DNA-dependent protein kinase

DSBs:

DNA double-strand breaks

ECVAM:

European Centre for the Validation of Alternative Methods

ELISA:

Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay

HR:

Homologous recombination

IARC:

International Agency for Research on Cancer

LC-MS/MS:

Liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometric

MDC1:

Mediator of DNA damage checkpoint protein 1

MRE11:

Meiotic recombination 11

MRN:

MRE11-RAD50-NBS1

NBS1:

Nijmegen breakage syndrome 1

NHEJ:

Non-homologous end joining

RNF168:

Ring finger protein 168

RNF8:

Ring finger protein 8

ROS:

Reactive oxygen species

RPA:

Replication protein A

UV:

Ultraviolet

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Acknowledgments

This work was supported by the Health Labour Sciences Research Grants from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare, Japan (Program Grant Number: JPMH17933911 and JPMH20317159).

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Correspondence to Hideki Wanibuchi .

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Suzuki, S., Wanibuchi, H. (2022). Gamma-H2AX Expression as a Biomarker of Carcinogenesis: Applications to Toxicology. In: Patel, V.B., Preedy, V.R., Rajendram, R. (eds) Biomarkers in Toxicology. Biomarkers in Disease: Methods, Discoveries and Applications. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87225-0_8-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-87225-0_8-1

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-030-87225-0

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-030-87225-0

  • eBook Packages: Springer Reference Biomedicine and Life SciencesReference Module Biomedical and Life Sciences

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