DNA adducts detected by 32P-postlabelling, in the intestine of rats given bile from patients with familial adenomatous polyposis and from unaffected controls.

ABSTRACT

Duodenal adenomas are common in patients with familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP) and cluster around the papilla, suggesting the involvement of bile in their development. Using 32P-postlabelling we determined levels of DNA adducts in the small bowel and colon of rats treated with bile from FAP and control patients. We found a significantly higher level of adducts in the small bowel of rats treated with FAP gallbladder bile compared with control gallbladder bile (P = 0.0034). This result supports the hypothesis that bile plays a role in the development of neoplasia in the foregut of FAP patients.