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Mutagen sensitivity and cancer susceptibility. Report of a cancer‐prone family
Author(s) -
Liang Jan C.,
Pinkel Donald P.,
Bailey Nell M.,
Trujillo Jose M.
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.052
H-Index - 304
eISSN - 1097-0142
pISSN - 0008-543X
DOI - 10.1002/1097-0142(19891001)64:7<1474::aid-cncr2820640719>3.0.co;2-s
Subject(s) - cancer , chromosomal fragile site , medicine , mutagen , bleomycin , chromosome abnormality , leukemia , genetics , chromosome instability , breast cancer , cancer research , chromosome , biology , karyotype , immunology , carcinogen , chemotherapy , gene
A cancer‐prone family was studied to determine if certain chromosomal abnormalities might have pre‐disposed members to develop diverse types of malignancies. The types of neoplasia that occurred in this family included cancers of the breast and stomach, multiple myeloma, dermatofibrosarcoma, Wilm's tumor, and leukemia; the latter three occurred in children at an early age. Peripheral lymphocytes from 13 family members were examined for the presence of constitutional chromosomal abnormalities, fragile sites, and mutagen sensitivity. Our data shows that all living members of this family who had cancers were hypersensitive to chromosome breakage induced by bleomycin. In contrast, neither constitutional chromosomal abnormality nor heritable type of folate‐sensitive fragile site was observed in any member. The above findings suggest that genetic defects affecting chromosomal breakage and repair may be contributing factors for cancer development in several members of this family.