title: Genetic instability of specific chromosomes associated with a family history of cancer.
abstract: This study evaluated the association between family history of cancer and bleomycin-induced mutagen breaks at specific chromosomes. The authors' hypothesis was that individuals exhibiting mutagen-induced specific chromatid breaks might have genetic instability and thus be more likely to report a family history of cancer. The study included 78 healthy individuals. All subjects completed a personal interview to collect epidemiologic information, including a detailed family history of cancer, and donated a 10-mL blood sample. Bleomycin-induced mutagen sensitivity on specific chromosomes was quantified by counting the bleomycin-induced specific chromosomal breaks with Q-banding techniques. We found that chromosome 4 breaks were significantly associated with a positive family history of cancer in first-degree relatives with an odds ratio of 3.18 and 95% confidence interval of 1.05-9.61. However, none of the other chromosomes showed significantly increased risk with family cancer history. In addition, the mutagen-induced chromosome 4 breaks were not associated with age, sex, ethnicity, or smoking status. These findings suggested that chromosome 4 mutagen sensitivity might be a predictor of familial susceptibility to cancer.
authors.affiliation: Department of Epidemiology, The University of Texas, M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX 77030, USA.
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.forename: Margaret R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Spitz
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.forename: Xifeng
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D002875:Chromosomes / Q000187:drug effects; D002894:Chromosomes, Human, Pair 4; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens / Q000494:pharmacology; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics*
chemical_list: D009153:Mutagens