XRCC1399 and hOGG1326 polymorphisms and frequencies of micronuclei, comet and chromosomal aberrations among tobacco chewers: a South Indian population study.

DNA repair plays a critical role in protecting the genome of the cell from the insults of cancer-causing agents such as those found in tobacco. Reduced DNA repair capacity may constitute a significant risk factor for cancers. Recently, a number of polymorphisms in several DNA repair genes have been discovered, these polymorphisms may affect DNA repair capacity and thus modulate cancer susceptibility in exposed populations.