Int.J.Curr.Microbiol.App.Sci (2014) 3(10) 587-593 587 Original Research Article Chromosomal aberrations: A tool for early diagnosis of cancer in smokers in a rural Pondicherry population, India A.N.Uma 1* , Dhananjay.S.Kotasthane 2 and T.Tirou Aroul 3 1 Genetic Division, Department of Anatomy, Mahatma Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry, India 607 402 2 Department of Pathology, Mahatma Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry, India 607 402 3 Department of General Surgery, Mahatma Medical College and Research Institute, Pondicherry, India 607 402 *Corresponding author ABSTRACT Introduction An increased risk of cancer in smokers with high levels of chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in peripheral blood lymphocytes has been described in recent epidemiological studies. A smoker is exposed to a variety of carcinogenic constituents present in cigarettes, making it necessary to analyze the cells at metaphase as these can be a health hazard to the future generations. Genotoxic carcinogens in cigarette interact with and alter DNA molecule causing cytotoxicity and therefore cytogenetic damage seems to be an excellent biomarker for determining the effect of exposure to chromosome damaging agents in smoke. In support of this hypothesis, an increased frequency of chromosome breaks has been demonstrated to be an initial event in carcinogenesis, suggesting that these alterations may play a significant role in ISSN: 2319-7706 Volume 3 Number 10 (2014) pp. 587-593 http://www.ijcmas.com Keywords chromosomal aberrations, genotoxicity, smoking index Cytogenetic assay in peripheral blood lymphocytes have been done to assess the incidence of chromosomal aberrations among 30 smokers and 30 nonsmokers belonging to a small hamlet in Pondicherry. Smokers were divided into three groups based on their Smoking Index (SI) using the formula : SI = No. of cigarettes / bidi s / cigars per day X Total duration in years.30 smokers were sub stratified into THREE groups based on their smoking index (SI): 10 Smokers I - SI less than 150, 10 Smokers II SI 150 to 300, 10Smokers III- SI more than 300. The results showed that among the smokers , chromosomal aberrations were seen only in smokers of smoking index greater than 300.Such findings may provide scientific evidence to encourage national campaigns to prevent tobacco consumption and devise intervention strategies that might reduce the persisting morbidity and mortality from smoking related cancer.