Role of radiation-induced chromosome aberrations in predicting brain cancer risk for glioblastoma multiforme patients

Prediction of chromosomal disorders causing to severe pathological conditions can provide big benefits in early diagnosis and treatment. Adding a predeterminable feature to the cancer risk is very important in enlightening of the mechanisms inducing the disease, in elongation of survival times of the patients due to early diagnosis of the disease and in reducing mortality and morbidity by developing effective and economical treatment protocols. Studies using chromosomal aberrations as biological markers indicate that increasing aberration levels are important indicators in predisposition to the cancer. Aim of this study was to determine it this is feasible. One or several types of cancers were used in these studies reported in the literature. The increases in frequency of chromosome aberrations in Italy and Norwegian societies have been associated to some types of cancers.

This study was performed on 10 untreated brain cancer patients and 10 controls. Peripheral blood specimen taken from each of the patients and healthy individuals and one of these specimens were subjected to in-vitro 2 Gy irradiation dose. Mitosis was induced in cultured peripheral blood lymphocytes via the activation of mitogen (phytohemaglutinin) activated pathways. Cell division was blocked in metaphase by the addition of colchemid and the chromosomal damages in the preparations were scored with asymmetrical chromosomal aberrations.

The ratio of dicentric chromosome was found to be higher in the glioblastoma multiforme patients.

To reach judicial conclusions, case-controlled trials including more patients should be performed.