Chromosomal damage in lymphocytes and fibroblasts of patients treated for testicular cancer

Abstract

I have read with considerable interest the report of van den Berg-de Ruiter et al. (1990) describing chromosomal damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of patients treated for testicular cancer. They suggested a predisposition to genetic instability as an etiological factor in the cancers of these patients, since increased chromosomal aberrations were observed in untreated patients or those having surgery only, as well as in men having undergone chemotherapy. We have observed similar aberrations in peripheral blood or cultured fibroblasts from 12 patients with testicular germ cell tumors, observations reported until now only in a doctoral dissertation (DeLozier-Blanchet 1986). Table 1 summarizes the relevant clinical and cytogenetic information concerning these men and their tumors. In nine cases I studied peripheral blood lympho-