title: Defective DNA repair in a large family having a high occurrence of cancer.
abstract: DNA repair synthesis induced by UV light was investigated in unstimulated lymphocytes of 18 healthy members of a large family. Three generations were included: the mother (82 years), her 11 surviving adult children (34-52 years) and 6 of her grandchildren (20-23 years). In the first generation on the paternal side the father and 4 of his 7 siblings had suffered from cancer, in the second generation 1 son and 1 daughter. [3H]-Thymidine incorporation was taken as the parameter for the DNA repair synthesis. DNA repair synthesis was reduced in 14 out of 18 family members; 1 in the first generation, 7 in the second generation, and all 6 in the third generation. In comparison only 14 out of 92 aged-matched controls showed a defective DNA repair. Results provide further evidence that first-degree relatives of cancer patients have an increased incidence of defective DNA repair.
authors.affiliation: Department of Research, University Clinics, Kantonsspital, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kovacs
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Langemann
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004247:DNA / Q000528:radiation effects; D004260:DNA Repair; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D010375:Pedigree; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D004247:DNA