G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity of ataxia-telangiectasia heterozygotes

Five lines of skin fibroblasts from individuals heterozygous for ataxia-telangiectasia (A-T), compared with six cell lines from age-matched normal controls, show a much higher frequency of chromatid breaks and gaps following x-irradiation during the G2 phase of the cell cycle. The magnitude of this difference suggests that G2 chromatid radiosensitivity could provide the basis for an assay to detect A-T heterozygotes. Though clinically normal, A-T heterozygotes share a high risk of cancer with A-T homozygotes and constitute approximately 1% of the human population. Further, we propose that G2 chromosomal radiosensitivity, which appears to result from a DNA repair deficiency, may be associated with a genetic predisposition to cancer.