Detection in human cells of alkylated macromolecules attributable to exposure to nitrosamines.

Various methods for detecting DNA alkylation adducts are described briefly, with emphasis on immunoassays using antibodies against O6-methyldeoxyguanosine (O6-medGua), O4-methylthymidine (O4-meThy) and 7-methyldeoxyguanosine (7-medGua). The application of these methods to epidemiological studies is discussed, and results obtained so far on the presence of DNA alkylation adducts in human tissues are presented.