title: Sensitivity to chromosomal breakage as risk factor in young adults with oral squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) may develop in young adults. In contrast to older patients, the well-known etiological factors, exposure to tobacco and alcohol, play a minor role in the carcinogenesis in this patient group. It has been suggested that an intrinsic susceptibility to environmental genotoxic exposures plays a role in the development of OSCC in these patients. The hypothesis was tested whether young OSCC patients have an increased sensitivity to induced chromosomal damage.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fourteen OSCC patients with an average age of 32 years (range 20-42) were selected. Peripheral blood lymphocytes and skin fibroblasts of patients and 14 healthy controls were subjected to the chromosome breakage test with Mitomycin C. This test is routinely used to identify Fanconi anemia patients, who are well-known for their inherited high sensitivity to this type of DNA damage, but also for the high risk to develop OSCC. Human papilloma virus status of the carcinomas was also determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  None of the 14 young patients with OSCC had an increased response in the MMC-chromosomal breakage test. All tumors tested negative for human papilloma virus.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  No evidence was obtained for the existence of a constitutional hypersensitivity to DNA chromosomal damage as a potential risk factor for OSCC in young adults.
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Boudewijn J M
authors: BJ
authors: Braakhuis
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Aggie W M
authors: AW
authors: Nieuwint
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Anneke B
authors: AB
authors: Oostra
authors: Department of Clinical Genetics, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Hans
authors: H
authors: Joenje
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Géke B
authors: GB
authors: Flach
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: A Peggy
authors: AP
authors: Graveland
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: Ruud H
authors: RH
authors: Brakenhoff
authors: Department of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, Cancer Center Amsterdam, VU University Medical Center Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
authors: C René
authors: CR
authors: Leemans
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D019457:Chromosome Breakage; D004249:DNA Damage; D005199:Fanconi Anemia / Q000235:genetics; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016685:Mitomycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D027383:Papillomaviridae; D012307:Risk Factors; D000077195:Squamous Cell Carcinoma of Head and Neck; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D016685:Mitomycin
keywords: Fanconi anemia; Mitomycin C, oral cancer; cancer predisposition; chromosomal breakage; cross-linking DNA; young adults