Oxaliplatin is a platinum-based anticancer drug that has been shown to be genotoxic to the normal cells. Vitamin E is a potent antioxidant that may protect and enhance the repair of the damaged DNA. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the genotoxic effect of oxaliplatin on DNA by measuring the frequency of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCEs) in cultured human lymphocytes. We also attempted to explore the potential protective effect of vitamin E on chromosomal damage induced by oxaliplatin. Results showed that oxaliplatin significantly increased the frequency of CAs (p < 0.001) and SCEs (p < 0.001) as compared to control. This chromosomal damage, caused by oxaliplatin, was significantly decreased by pretreatment of cells with vitamin E. Moreover, the results showed that oxaliplatin caused a significant reduction in the cell kinetic parameters, the mitotic index (MI) and the proliferative index (PI). However, vitamin E did not affect this reduction in the MI and PI. Therefore, we conclude that oxaliplatin is genotoxic, and vitamin E can prevent the chromosomal damage induced by oxaliplatin but it has no effect on oxaliplatin-induced cytotoxicity.
Keywords: Oxaliplatin; chromosomal aberrations; genotoxicity; sister chromatid exchanges; vitamin E.