title: Chromosomal radiosensitivity and acute radiation side effects after radiotherapy in tumour patients--a follow-up study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Radiotherapists are highly interested in optimizing doses especially for patients who tend to suffer from side effects of radiotherapy (RT). It seems to be helpful to identify radiosensitive individuals before RT. Thus we examined aberrations in FISH painted chromosomes in in vitro irradiated blood samples of a group of patients suffering from breast cancer. In parallel, a follow-up of side effects in these patients was registered and compared to detected chromosome aberrations.
  
  
  METHODS
  Blood samples (taken before radiotherapy) were irradiated in vitro with 3 Gy X-rays and analysed by FISH-painting to obtain aberration frequencies of first cycle metaphases for each patient. Aberration frequencies were analysed statistically to identify individuals with an elevated or reduced radiation response. Clinical data of patients have been recorded in parallel to gain knowledge on acute side effects of radiotherapy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eight patients with a significantly elevated or reduced aberration yield were identified by use of a t-test criterion. A comparison with clinical side effects revealed that among patients with elevated aberration yields one exhibited a higher degree of acute toxicity and two patients a premature onset of skin reaction already after a cumulative dose of only 10 Gy. A significant relationship existed between translocations in vitro and the time dependent occurrence of side effects of the skin during the therapy period.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The results suggest that translocations can be used as a test to identify individuals with a potentially elevated radiosensitivity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Cytogenetics, HelmholtzZentrum Muenchen - German Research Center for Environmental Health, Neuherberg, Germany. rhuber@helmholtz-muenchen.de
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Huber
authors.forename: Herbert
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Braselmann
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Geinitz
authors.forename: Irene
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Jaehnert
authors.forename: Adolf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baumgartner
authors.forename: Reinhard
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Thamm
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Figel
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Molls
authors.forename: Horst
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zitzelsberger
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000532:radiotherapy*; D002877:Chromosomes, Human / Q000235:genetics / Q000528:radiation effects*; D020552:Comet Assay; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D017403:In Situ Hybridization; D011836:Radiation Tolerance / Q000235:genetics*; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000009:adverse effects*