title: A study of chromosomal aberrations and chromosomal fragility after recombinant growth hormone treatment.
abstract: Increased chromosomal rearrangements and chromosomal fragility have been previously observed in lymphocytes of children treated with human GH, implying that treatment could predispose to malignancy. Twenty-four children with classic GH deficiency, neurosecretory GH dysfunction, and Turner syndrome were treated with recombinant human GH (0.3 mg x kg(-1) x wk(-1)). Metaphase cells were assessed for spontaneous chromosomal and chromatid aberrations at baseline and 6 mo into treatment. There were no significant differences in aberrations between baseline and the 6-mo samples. However, the mean frequency of chromatid-type aberrations on a per cell basis was significantly higher than at baseline, 0.0088 versus 0.0064 aberrations per cell (p < 0.024). Two patients contributed inordinately to this increase. A third sample from these two patients was almost identical to their baseline samples. Cells were also irradiated in vitro (3 Gy) to assess chromosomal fragility. After irradiation, no patient showed a significant difference for any aberration type, although there was a significantly lower frequency of ring chromosomes on a per cell basis in the 6-mo samples (p < 0.001). We find no evidence that GH therapy influences spontaneous chromosomal aberrations or chromosomal fragility.
authors.affiliation: Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee 53209, USA.
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Slyper
authors.forename: J D
authors.initials: JD
authors.lastname: Shadley
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: van Tuinen
authors.forename: S M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Richton
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Hoffmann
authors.forename: D T
authors.initials: DT
authors.lastname: Wyatt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D002842:Chromatids / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D002873:Chromosome Fragility; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D005260:Female; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000097:blood / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000528:radiation effects; D008297:Male; D008677:Metaphase / Q000187:drug effects / Q000528:radiation effects; D016192:Resting Phase, Cell Cycle / Q000528:radiation effects; D014424:Turner Syndrome / Q000097:blood / Q000188:drug therapy*
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone