title: Cytogenetic finding of breast cancer cases and in their first-degree relatives.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the rate of sister chromatid exchange (SCE), the occurrence of micronuclei, and the lymphocyte proliferation rate index (PRI) in patients with breast cancer, their first-degree relatives, and healthy volunteers.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analyzed the frequency of SCE and micronuclei, and the PRI in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of 30 women with breast cancer, 22 of their female family members, and 20 age-matched healthy female volunteers.
  
  
  RESULTS
  SCE occurred significantly more often in the lymphocytes of breast cancer patients (10.84±0.4 per metaphase), compared with their first-degree relatives (7.45±0.54) and controls (5.94±0.2) (p<0.001 for both). The mean SCE frequency was not statistically different between first-degree relatives and controls (p=0.071). Similarly, micronuclei occurred at a significantly higher rate in breast cancer patients (9.6±0.72), and in their first-degree relatives (7±0.64), compared to controls (3.85±0.4) (p<0.001 and p=0.001, respectively). There was also a significant difference between the occurrence of micronuclei in patients compared to their family members (p=0.021). The PRI was significantly lower in patients (1.61±0.1), compared with both their first-degree relatives (1.75±0.1), and controls (1.74±0.1) (p=0.001 and p=0.002, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased SCE and the occurrence of micronuclei, as well as a reduced PRI are associated with breast cancer. Furthermore, increased SCE and the frequency of micronuclei in a first-degree relative suggest that they exhibit greater genetic instability than women of the same age.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Biology and Genetic, Süleyman Demirel University School of Medicine, Isparta, Turkey.
authors.forename: Dilek Aşcı
authors.initials: DA
authors.lastname: Celik
authors.forename: Pınar Aslan
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Koşar
authors.forename: Nurten
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozçelik
authors.forename: Erol
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Eroğlu
keywords: Breast neoplasms; DNA damage; Germline micronucleus; Sister chromatid exchange