title: Cytogenetic instability in young patients with multiple primary cancers.
abstract: Patients younger than 45 years with multiple cancers and a family history of cancer were identified and examined for cytogenetic instability. The cohort included 50 individuals: 19 patients suffering from at least 2 independent cancers, 11 healthy control individuals, a positive control group of 5 highly radiosensitive patients (>grade 3, RTOG), and a tumor control group of 15 patients with a single tumor. Peripheral blood lymphocytes were irradiated in vitro (0.7 Gy, 2.0 Gy). Metaphase chromosomes 1, 2, and 4 were labeled by means of 3-color fluorescence in situ hybridization. Chromosomal aberrations (breaks per metaphase [B/M], complex chromosomal rearrangements [CCR/M]) were analyzed. Very high levels of chromosomal aberrations were detected in a "core group" of 5 patients. These patients displayed much higher rates of B/M and CCR/M than controls. Ten patients had moderately elevated chromosomal aberrations and 4 patients were indistinguishable from controls. We conclude that a significant proportion of young patients with multiple tumors and a family background of cancer display cytogenetic instability.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen-Nuremberg, Universitätsstrasse 27, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany.
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keller
authors.forename: Gerhard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Grabenbauer
authors.forename: Alma
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kuechler
authors.forename: Carl N
authors.initials: CN
authors.lastname: Sprung
authors.forename: Elisabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Müller
authors.forename: Rolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Sauer
authors.forename: Luitpold
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Distel
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D043171:Chromosomal Instability; D002869:Chromosome Aberrations; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009378:Neoplasms, Multiple Primary / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy