Analysis of chromosome aberrations by FISH and Giemsa assays in lymphocytes of cancer patients undergoing whole-body irradiation: comparison of in vivo and in vitro irradiation.

Purpose: To study the cytogenetic effects of fractionated radiotherapy in peripheral blood lymphocytes of five cancer patients. In vitro experiments were performed in parallel using the same dose range and a comparison was made of the induced frequencies of stable and unstable chromosome aberrations. The object was to clarify the use of an in vitro calibration curve for immediate and retrospective dosimetry in cases of radiation accidents.

An investigation of the age-dependency of chromosome abnormalities in human populations exposed to low-dose ionising radiation.

Among various cytogenetic changes stable chromosome aberrations (SCHA) seem to be the most significant for ageing and carcinogenesis. Being nonlethal they can persist through cell divisions and accumulate in time. We studied the age response of SCHA (translocations and insertions) in normal and radiation exposed human populations.