Testing for mutations of the ataxia telangiectasia gene in radiosensitive breast cancer patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine if clinical radiosensitivity in breast cancer patients is related to mutations of the ataxia telangiectasia gene (ATM).


METHODS
Fifteen patients who had developed a severe late reaction to a standard radiotherapy schedule were examined for evidence of increased in vitro radiosensitivity using the MTT assay. Mutation analysis was performed using a protein truncation assay.


RESULTS
No mutations were detected in the 15 patients despite evidence of increased in vitro radiosensitivity.


CONCLUSIONS
Testing for the ATM gene is unlikely to be useful for predicting clinical response to radiotherapy in breast cancer patients.
Queensland Radium Institute Laboratory and Queensland Institute of Medical Research, Herston, Brisbane, Australia.
J
J
Ramsay
G
G
Birrell
M
M
Lavin
D001260:Ataxia Telangiectasia / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics*; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002460:Cell Line; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D005260:Female; D006579:Heterozygote; D006801:Humans; D016366:Open Reading Frames; D017354:Point Mutation; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D014407:Tumor Cells, Cultured / Q000528:radiation effects