Enhanced chromosomal radiosensitivity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of larynx cancer patients

Purpose: The chromosomal radiosensitivity in peripheral blood lymphocytes of cancer patients was reported to be higher than that of healthy donors. This effect is especially prominent when aberrations induced in the G2 phase of the cell cycle are analyzed. The aim of our study was to investigate if the G2 aberration frequencies in lymphocytes of patients with larynx cancer are higher than in the case of control individuals. Also, we tested if the frequencies of G2 aberrations correlate with side effects of radiotherapy. Methods and Materials: Peripheral blood of 38 patients was collected before the onset of radiotherapy, cultured for 72 h, and irradiated with 2 Gy after 67 h. Lymphocytes of 40 healthy donors were treated in the same way. Results: The spontaneous and radiation-induced aberration frequencies in lymphocytes of patients were on average higher than in those of healthy donors. No statistically significant correlation was observed between aberration frequencies in lymphocytes and the degree of both early and late normal tissue reactions. Conclusions: The chromosomal radiosensitivity of lymphocytes of patients with larynx cancer may be a marker of cancer predisposition; however, it does not appear to have a predictive value for the risk of developing side effects to radiotherapy