Human leukocyte antigens and sister chromatid exchanges in families with multiple adenomatosis coli

To study human leukocyte antigens (HLA) and sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in multiple adenomatosis coli (MAC), eight families were evaluated. Twenty-five subjects (14 affected members and 11 healthy relatives) were studied with HLA A, B, and C typing of peripheral lymphocytes and SCE count in cells that had replicated twice. The results of the present immunogenetic study, although limited to a small number of cases, suggest a correlation between HLA, SCE, and MAC. When the results of further investigations on larger series confirmed by clinical follow-up of these subjects are available, these methods might give useful information in predicting the risk of each family member to become affected by MAC and consequently develop a colorectal carcinoma.