Chromosomal instability induced by heavy ions in human fibroblasts

The cytogenetic study of normal human dermis fibroblasts irradiated with heavy ions showed the appearance of de novo chromosomal instability (around the 15th passage after irradiation). It was shown that this instability can be induced in normal human cells, for a wide range of high LET radiation; it is transmissible through many cell divisions and is mainly reflected by the emergence of dicentric chromosomes. The chromosomal instability does not occur at random but affects certain specific telomeric regions and leads to clonal chromosomal imbalance and rearrangement, as frequently observed in human solid tumour. (R.P.) 17 refs