Acute and long-term cytogenetic effects of treatment in childhood cancer: sister-chromatid exchanges and chromosome aberrations.

Abstract

The incidence of chromosomal aberrations in banded karyotypes and of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCEs) was determined in the lymphocytes of survivors of childhood cancer as 2 parameters which are pertinent in assessing the genetic damage induced by chemotherapy. The proportion of cells with chromosome breakage or structural rearrangement-type aberration was 1 cell in 67 in a control group of 8 untreated cancer patients and 2 parents of cancer patients, 1 cell in 8 in 12 patients currently on therapy, and 1 cell in 50 in 17 patients sampled 6 months to 35 years post-treatment. The range of mean SCE levels per cell was 4.5-6.5 in the untreated cancer patients, 4.0-9.6 in non-cancer controls, 3.3-33.7 in patients on therapy, and 4.6-9.7 in post-therapy survivors. Considerably variability was observed between individuals with both SCE and breakage assays but therapy-induced increases in SCEs were not necessarily correlated with increased levels of aberrations arising from chromosomal breakage.

• Authors: M M Aronson, R C Miller, R B Hill, W W Nichols, A T Meadows
• Journal: Mutation research (Mutat Res) Vol. 92 Issue 1-2 Pg. 291-307 (Feb 22 1982) ISSN: 0027-5107 [Print] Netherlands
• PMID: 7088009 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.)

Topics

• Adult
• Cells, Cultured
• Child
• Child, Preschool
• Chromosome Aberrations
• Chromosome Banding
• Crossing Over, Genetic
• Female
• Follow-Up Studies
• Humans
• Infant
• Lymphocytes (ultrastructure)
• Male
• Neoplasms (genetics, therapy)
• Sister Chromatid Exchange