A signal assay for the detection of genotoxic compounds: application on the urines of cancer patients on chemotherapy and of nurses handling cytotoxic drugs.

1. The excretion of thioethers was determined in the urine of nurses handling cytotoxic drugs (n = 10) and cancer patients under chemotherapy (n = 32). 2. An occupational non-exposed group served as control (n = 28). 3. We found no association between the handling of cytotoxic drugs and occupational exposure of nurses. Cancer patients under chemotherapy showed abnormally high values of thioethers, while urinary thioether concentration was, consistently, rather low in some individuals under intensive chemotherapy. 4. We conclude that periodical urinary thioether determinations should be made available to hospital staff as well as cancer patients to minimize the risks of the cytotoxic drugs.