Ultraviolet-induced formation of micronuclei and sister chromatid exchange in cultured fibroblasts of patients with cutaneous malignant melanoma.
Genetically enhanced sensitivity to ultraviolet (UV) radiation may play an important role in the development of cutaneous malignant melanoma (CMM). This was studied in cultured fibroblasts of 26 CMM patients and controls by micronucleus (MN) test and sister chromatid exchange (SCE) after UV irradiation (375 J/m2). Sister chromatid exchange and MN formation were used as parameters to detect the UV-induced genotoxic damage in the individual cell strains. We found that the UV-induced level of MN was significantly increased in CMM patients (p = 0.0005), being most pronounced in the familial cases (p = 0.0001). Ultraviolet-induced SCE was also elevated in CMM patients (p = 0.001), but there was no difference between familial and nonfamilial cases. The present findings indicate that genetic predisposition contributes to the development of CMM in a subset of CMM patients and may be due to an enhanced susceptibility to UV light.
Roser
M
M
Department of Occupational Medicine, University of Hamburg, West Germany.
Böhm
A
A
Oldigs
M
M
Weichenthal
M
M
Reimers
U
U
Schmidt-Preuss
U
U
Breitbart
E W
EW
Rüdiger
H W
HW
D000328:Adult; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D005347:Fibroblasts / Q000528:radiation effects / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000235:genetics*; D015162:Micronucleus Tests; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000235:genetics; D012854:Sister Chromatid Exchange / Q000528:radiation effects*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays / Q000009:adverse effects*