Correlation between Specific Carcinogens and Mitotic Defects in Uterine Cancer.

The development of uterine cancer and its progression can be linked to external elements such as carcinogens, natural hormones and chemotherapeutic drugs. The goal of this project was to investigate the possible correlation between exposure to specific chemical and an increase of mitotic defects. These defects manifest themselves as lagging chromosomes, multipolar spindles, and anaphase bridges. Using the uterine cancer cell line MES-SA as a model, we established a baseline for the mitotic defects in the absence and presence of various chemicals using γ-tubulin and DAPI-immune stained fixed cells. The cells were treated with varying concentrations
of Vinyl Chloride, β-estradiol, Fluvestrant, and were examined using Immunofluorescent microscopy. We found that an exposure to Vinyl Chloride, β-estradiol and Fulvestrant have increased the number of mitotic defects in this cell line.