Radiation clastogenesis and cell cycle checkpoint function as functional markers of breast cancer risk.

Background: Familial breast cancer is associated with mutations in several genes (BRCA1, BRCA2, p53, ATM) whose protein products protect against radiation-induced genotoxicity. This study tested whether sporadic breast cancer was associated with constitutive radiation hypersensitivity.

Methods: Blood lymphocytes and EBV-transformed lymphoblasts from patients with newly diagnosed breast cancer and controls without cancer were evaluated for ionizing radiation (IR)-induced chromosomal aberrations and cell cycle delays.