Clastogenic action of chemotherapy in humans (review)

Examinations of the chromosome damaging (clastogenic) action of chemotherapy not only present valuable insights into the genetic hazards for man resulting from the respective drugs, but also can be used for control of success of certain treatments. In addition, those studies may be helpful in detecting "high-risk" individuals and, in consequence, in protecting them from the detrimental action of therapeutics they are highly sensitive to. Clastogenic activity should not be discussed without considering the close correlation between induction of mutations (e.g. chromosome changes) and malignant transformation, as documented by recent evidence on the meaning of point mutations as well as of chromosomal rearrangements in oncogene activation.