A RADD technique for mapping DNA damage in gynecological tumors

Environmental exposures, reactive by-products of cellular metabolism, and spontaneous deamination events result in a spectrum of DNA damage that, if unrepaired, threatens genomic integrity by inducing mutations, increasing instability, and contributing to the initiation and progression of cancer. Numerous methods to characterize DNA damage exist. However, these methods, primarily apply to isolated DNA or cultured human cells, often require substantial material and may be limited to detecting and quantifying only a handful of DNA adducts. To understand genomic instability and DNA repair defects within gynecological tumors, we need easy-to-use, flexible methods for detecting and quantifying DNA lesions.