DOI: 10.36347/sjds.2019.v06i12.002

Pages: 505-506

Introduction: The purpose of this article is to provide an overview on the application of single-cell gel (comet) assay as a promising tool for the detection of DNA damage induced by the use of tobacco, smokeless tobacco products and alcoholic beverages to assess the development of oral cancer risk. Comet Assay is a versatile method which is utilized to detect genotoxicity and cytotoxicity at the cellular level and can be utilized in regular practice as a pre-diagnostic tool in the prevention of oral carcinogenesis. Discussion: Buccal epithelial cells prove to be a potential replacement for lymphocytes collected from blood as the least invasive method for collection of cells for the early detection and prevention of oral cancer by the assessment of DNA damage.