title: Inherited sensitivity to X-rays in man.
abstract: Ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), an inherited disorder giving radiation sensitivity and cancer-proneness, is discussed in terms of a defect in ability to repair DNA damage. A new assay using damaged recombinant DNA molecules suggests that the fidelity of repair of DNA double-strand breaks is reduced in an A-T cell line. Specific chromosomal changes in some A-T patients appear to be associated with cancer induction, and it is suggested that these could be linked to a DNA repair-fidelity defect. However, a general correlation between radiosensitivity and cancer-proneness is difficult to establish at present, partly because of diversity in radiosensitivity in the normal population.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Thacker
mesh_terms: D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000235:genetics*; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004260:DNA Repair; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics; D011836:Radiation Tolerance; D014965:X-Rays
chemical_list: D004247:DNA