Chromosome aberrations and transforming genes in leukemic and non-leukemic patients with a history of atomic bomb exposure

Journal Article · Thu Jan 01 04:00:00 EST 1987 · Int. Symp. Princess Takamatsu Cancer Res. Fund; (United States)

OSTI ID:6171430

Kamada, N; Tanaka, K; Kasegawa, A

To investigate leukemogenesis in atomic bomb (A-bomb) survivors, chromosome aberrations in bone marrow cells, and T- and B-lymphocytes from 135 healthy persons who had been exposed within 1,000 m of the hypocenter of the Hiroshima A-bomb were sequentially examined. Leukemic marrow cells from 468 patients with acute or chronic type of leukemias, including 25 acute leukemias exposed to 1 rad or more of radiation were also studied cytogenetically. Analysis of breakpoints observed in T-lymphocytes with stable types of abnormalities revealed a nonrandom distribution, and clustering in specific regions of chromosomes such as 22q1, 14q3, and 5q3. Statistical analysis revealed a higher incidence of translocations in 50 bands, including those containing cellular oncogenes such as 8q22, 8q24, and 9q34. Of these 50 bands, 20 were matched with bands specific for leukemia and cancer and 14 with constitutive fragile sites. In leukemic marrow, all 10 patients who had been exposed to radiation of more than 200 rad and then developed acute non-lymphocytic leukemia had chromosome aberrations. Their aberrations were more complex than those in patients exposed to less than 200 rad (33 patients) and in the non-exposed patients (134 patients). DNA samples extracted from bone marrow cells of 13 survivors, including 4 healthy survivors with more than 30% chromosome abnormalities in the bone marrow and 9 leukemia patients were used for in vivo selection assay of transforming genes. Tumor formation in nude mice was observed in 3 of the 4 healthy survivors and 9 leukemia patients. All of the transfectants were shown to contain Alu sequences. The transforming N-ras gene was detected for the first time in the bone marrow cells from 3 heavily exposed survivors and from 7 leukemia patients with a history of radiation exposure.

• Research Organization: Hiroshima Univ. (Japan)
• OSTI ID: 6171430
• Journal Information: Int. Symp. Princess Takamatsu Cancer Res. Fund; (United States), Journal Name: Int. Symp. Princess Takamatsu Cancer Res. Fund; (United States) Vol. 18; ISSN XY899
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560151* -- Radiation Effects on Animals-- Man
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
A-BOMB SURVIVORS
ANIMAL CELLS
ASIA
BIOASSAY
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BLOOD CELLS
BODY FLUIDS
BONE MARROW CELLS
CHROMOSOMAL ABERRATIONS
CONNECTIVE TISSUE CELLS
DISEASES
DOSES
GENES
HEMIC DISEASES
HIROSHIMA
HUMAN POPULATIONS
IMMUNE SYSTEM DISEASES
JAPAN
LEUKEMIA
LEUKOCYTES
LYMPHOCYTES
MATERIALS
MUTATIONS
NEOPLASMS
ONCOGENES
PATIENTS
POPULATIONS
RADIATION DOSES
RADIOINDUCTION
SOMATIC CELLS