Determinants of 4-aminobiphenyl-DNA adducts in bladder cancer biopsies

normal nucleotides, mean SE). A strongassociation with grade was observed. In the group ofpatients with detectable 4-ABP-DNA adducts the odds ratiofor having a tumor grade of 2 or 3 was respectively 4.3(95% CI 0.8–21.9) and 6 (1.3–27.5), compared with grade1. A non-statistically significant association was foundbetween adduct levels and the deduced slow acetylatorphenotype in grades 2 and 3. The intake of fruit andvegetables produced a lower frequency of detectableadducts, though the association was not statistically signi-ficant. Detectable 4-ABP-DNA adducts were clearlyassociated with current smoking in higher tumor grades(grade 3 versus grades 1 2, odds ratios 10.4; 95% CI1.7–63.1). Overall, our findings indicate that higher levelsof DNA adducts characterize more invasive tumors (highertumor grades). This seems to be facilitated by smoking andcontrasted by the intake of fruit and vegetables.Introduction