title: Is chromosome radiosensitivity and apoptotic response to irradiation correlated with cancer susceptibility?
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Genetics Centre, Guy's & St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London.
authors.forename: Zoe
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Docherty
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Georgiou
authors.forename: Caroline
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Langman
authors.forename: Ian
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kesterton
authors.forename: Sarah
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rose
authors.forename: Richard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Camplejohn
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ball
authors.forename: Julian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Barwell
authors.forename: Ruth
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Gilchrist
authors.forename: Laurent
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pangon
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Berg
authors.forename: Shirley
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hodgson
mesh_terms: 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