Analysis of 8-Hydroxy-2′-Deoxyguanosine as a Marker of Oxidatively Damaged DNA in Relation to Carcinogenesis and Aging

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are well known hazards for living organisms and are believed to be associated with the induction of cancer. ROS induce many forms of oxidative damage to proteins, nucleic acids, and lipids. Therefore, to diagnose or prevent cancer, analyses of oxidative products in patient samples, including tissue, blood, and urine, are very informative. Amongst the products of DNA oxidation, 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OH-dG) is an important form of damage that leads to point mutations in genomic DNA. Since 8-OH-dG is the most abundant form of oxidative DNA damage and is easy to detect in laboratories, using a high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system equipped with an electrochemical detector (ECD), many researchers studying cellular oxidative stress have primarily analyzed 8-OH-dG. In this chapter, we will describe our findings regarding 8-OH-dG generation and its repair, as well as our recent urinary 8-OH-dG data.