The incidence of cytogenetically abnormal rogue cells in peripheral blood

Purpose: To compare the occurrence of cytogenetically abnormal rogue cells, characterized by a high frequency of chromosome type abberrations, in peop le exposed to ionizing radiation and in non-exposed subjects. Materials and methods: Data on rogue cells from a total of nine cytogenetic studies on radiation-exposed populations and controls were collected from three laboratories in the United Kingdom, France and Finland. The studies w ere conducted on first-division metaphases of peripheral blood lymphocytes. Solid Giemsa-stained, G- or R-banded and FISH chromosome-painted material was included. Results: Rogue cells were found both from controls and from exposed subject s. The highest incidence of these cells was observed in a control group of young trainees (1:400), whereas the lowest incidence of rogue cells (1:36 5 00) was demonstrated in a follow-up study of people accidentally exposed to high levels of ionizing radiation. Rogue cells were found to be distribute d non-randomly among individuals; the highest individual frequency was 1 in 50 analysed metaphases. Conclusions: The origin of rogue cells is still unclear. The incidence of r ogue cells showed a large variability between studies and individuals. No c orrelation between long-term radiation exposure and the occurrence of rogue cells was demonstrated. Although the presence of rogue cells in astronauts after a 6 month space flight may be attributable to high-LET radiation, th e frequencies were not remarkable when compared with those in the other stu dies in this review.