Abstract

Application of various diagnostic tests for occupational cancer risk monitoring is associated with the fact that gene mutations and changes in gene expression correspond to the earliest stages of carcinogenesis, namely early stages of the promotion process. The changes in protooncogenes and suppressor genes can be detected either at the genome level, at the level of transferring the genetic information from DNA to protein, or at the level of protein synthesis controlled by genes (oncogenes or antioncogenes). In the latter instance, as the concentrations of these proteins are considerably increased, their quantities in blood serum can be determined by the immunochemical methods. In our work, blood serum p-53 and NEU proteins were determined in 32 workers exposed to asbestos and in 57 workers exposed to PAHs. The proteins were also determined in 99 patients with overt cancer and in 47 controls. The data obtained in this work show positive values of oncoprotein NEU or antioncoprotein p-53 in 17.3% to 31.8% of workers exposed to PAHs or asbestos. The percentage of positive values for the examined proteins in the patients with overt cancer ranged from 12.5% to 42.5%. It should be noted that positive values of the oncoproteins detected in the biomaterial of the persons exposed do not mean that people must necessarily develop cancer, nevertheless the elevated values should be regarded as a warning and an implication for undertaking suitable preventive steps.