SEX-CHROMOSOME ABNORMALITIES IN LUNG-CANCER PATIENTS

Chromosomal analyses of lymphocytes from lung cancer patients and norm al subjects revealed that the X and the Y chromosomes have both struct ural and numerical abnormalities in higher frequency in patients comp ared to the controls. These abnormalities included chromatid/isochroma tid breaks, translocations, ring formation, and selective nondisjuncti ons, resulting in multisomies of either the X or Y chromosomes. Possib le significance of these genetic abnormalities are discussed in relati on to lung cancer patients.