Quantitative DNA analysis has often been proposed as a potential tool capable of detecting preneoplastic tissue and as such to function as an intermediate endpoint in cancer chemoprevention trials. The first aim of this study was to test whether cytomorphometric parameters could be used to detect field cancerization characteristics in cytological preparations of oral mucosa. Cytomorphometric parameters in exfoliated cells of apparently normal oral mucosa of head and neck cancer patients were compared with those of healthy controls. The second aim was to assess the value of these parameters subsequently as intermediate endpoint biomarkers in the mucosa of 70 patients receiving N-acetylcysteine and/or retinyl-palmitate as chemopreventive drugs. No differences were detected between 'high risk' and healthy mucosa, nor were differences observed before and after treatment.

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