Am. Cianciulli et al., SENSITIVITY TO MITOMYCIN-C - A MARKER OF TRANSFORMATION IN ADENOMATOSIS OF COLO-RECTUM, Journal of experimental & clinical cancer research, 13(3), 1994, pp. 217-221
Genetic instability of chromosomes is a characteristic feature of auto
somal recessive syndromes and their association with increased suscept
ibility to cancer is well known. In this study, baseline and mitomycin
C (MMC)- induced chromosomal aberrations and sister chromatid exchang
es (SCEs) in blood lymphocytes of patients with adenomatosis of the co
lon and rectum were studied. The baseline frequency of chromosomal abe
rrations and SCEs revealed a significant increase in precancerous and
cancerous lesions compared to those of controls. The MMC-induced chrom
osomal aberrations and SCEs showed differential response between affec
ted subjects (adenomatosis and cancer patients) and normal group. The
results thus indicate that chromosomal instability, as observed in pre
cancerous and cancerous lesions, is associated with their sensitivity
to MMC and that sensitivity to mutagen-induced chromosome damage can s
erve as an indicator of genetic susceptibility to risk of cancer.