Micronucleus frequency and content in healthy relatives of cancer patients

Abstract

Objective: To compare chromosomal damage in lymphocytes of individuals who did or did not report first-degree relatives with cancer.

Materials and methods: Cases and controls (68 each) were matched for sex, age and radon exposure. Chromosomal damage was quantified as frequency of micronucleus-containing cells and proportion of centromere-free micronuclei.

Results: Individuals not reporting cancer in their families showed lower values of both the frequency of micronucleus-containing cells (n.s.) and the proportion of centromere-free micronuclei (p < 0.05) in some subgroups, but not in all.

Conclusion: The chromosomal damage observed may be due to inheritable genomic instability, but environmental influences cannot be excluded.

Keywords:

• Micronucleus centromere test
• chromosomal damage
• inheritable trait
• cancer predisposition
• radon
• chromosomal damage
• inheritable trait
• cancer predisposition
• radon

Acknowledgments

This study was supported by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Budějovice, within the framework of the project “Environmental and Occupational Health” (EPZ2013_003).

Disclosure statement

The authors report no declarations of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This study was supported by the Faculty of Health and Social Sciences, University of South Bohemia in České Buděovice, within the framework of the project “Environmental and Occupational Health” (EPZ2013_003).