MUTAGEN SENSITIVITY AND CANCER SUSCEPTIBILITY IN PATIENTS WITH MULTIPLE PRIMARY CANCERS

Thirty-two patients with multiple cancers were evaluated for in vitro sensitivity to mutagens and were compared with normal controls, Mutage n sensitivity was evaluated by exposing lymphocytes to mitomycin-C in vitro and estimating the mitomycin-induced chromosomal gaps and breaks (G/B) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) per cell. The results show significant differences between control and patient groups when spont aneous and induced G/B and SCE were evaluated. In addition, establishi ng the limit of normality for G/B and SCE, among the control group, th e examined patients show largely positive levels in respect to both of the parameters used. In this study we discuss the usefulness of mutag en sensitivity as an indirect measure of DNA repair and genetic suscep tibility to multiple primary cancers.