Cells and cocktails

Tumor cells are characterized by an increase in genomic instability, brought about by both chromosomal rearrangement and chromosomal instability. Both of these broad changes can be induced by exposure to carcinogens. During mitosis, cells can exhibit early and late lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles or anaphase bridges, all of which contribute to genomic rearrantement. We have studied the link between exposure to carcinogen and prevalence of mitotic defect in both chromosomally stable and unstable cell lines as well as ecamined the restorative effects of antioxidants in preventing mitotic defects. We have exposed MES-SA uterine cancer cells to vinyl chloride followed by exposure to an antioxidant : ascorbic acid, B-carotene, or lycopene. Treated cells were then scored for the prevalence of mitotic defects within the population and compared to controls. We have also investigated whether pre-treatment with the antioxidants will weaken the effects of carcinogen exposure in these cell lines.