Increased Illegitimate V(D)J Recombination as a Possible Marker for Breast Cancer Predisposition
Abstract
It is widely presumed that environmental exposures play a role in the development of breast cancer, but only ionizing radiation, has been identified as a risk factor for the disease. Individual susceptibility to the types of genotoxic damage and mutagenesis caused by ionizing radiation should therefore be a modulator of breast cancer risk. A number of inborn human disease syndromes characterized by ioning radiation sensitivity have been identified, including ataxia telangiectasia, which has also been linked with breast cancer risk through molecular and epidemiological studies. The V(D)J recombinase assay exploits the known association of specific; chromosome aberrations with the AT phenotype; chromosome aberrations caused by the inappropriate "illegitimate" interrecombination of elements of different genes that normally undergo V(D)J recombination during maturation of the immunological system, the immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor genes. This PCR-based assay has the advantages of being simple, rapid and relatively inexpensive, allowing for feasible application in population screening to detect individuals at increased risk of breast cancer prior to the onset of overt disease. This assay will now be applied within the larger context of a study measuring overall genotoxic exposure and response in newly diagnosed breast cancer patients using blood cell-based somatic mutation as says.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2003
- Accession Number
- ADA423210
Entities
People
- Stephen G Grant
Organizations
- University of Pittsburgh