Is chromosome radiosensitivity and apoptotic response to irradiation correlated with cancer susceptibility?
OBJECTIVE
Individuals who have been treated for breast cancer have been reported to have increased lymphocyte chromosomal sensitivity to ionizing radiation and a significantly lower apoptotic response to irradiation compared to controls. We set out to test these findings using a substantial number of cases sampled before treatment (which could alter the parameters measured), compared to age-matched controls with normal mammograms.


METHODS
We used the G2 chromosome breakage, and apoptotic response assays of peripheral blood lymphocytes to ionizing radiation to compare 211 unselected newly diagnosed and untreated breast cancer patients, with 170 age, sex and ethnically matched controls.


RESULTS
We found no significant differences between breast cancer patients and their matched controls in the G2 assay or apoptotic response. However, there was some evidence that both cases and controls with a strong family history of breast cancer had higher radiosensitivity than those without.


CONCLUSIONS
This is the largest and best controlled study of its kind, but it has not replicated previous reports of differences between chromosome breakage or apoptotic response in breast cancer cases vs. controls. However there was a suggestion of increased radiosensitivity in patients with a strong family history, which may indicate a heritable cancer susceptibility trait, warranting further study.
Docherty
Zoe
Z
Genetics Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London.
Georgiou
Anne
A
Langman
Caroline
C
Kesterton
Ian
I
Rose
Sarah
S
Camplejohn
Richard
R
Ball
Jan
J
Barwell
Julian
J
Gilchrist
Ruth
R
Pangon
Laurent
L
Berg
Jonathan
J
Hodgson
Shirley
S
D017209:Apoptosis / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008214:Lymphocytes / Q000166:cytology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology; D011827:Radiation; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics / Q000502:physiology / Q000528:radiation effects*; D013997:Time Factors