Abstract
Individuals differ in their susceptibility to radiogenic cancers, and there is evidence that this inter-individual susceptibility extends to HZE ion-induced carcinogenesis. Three components of individual risk: sex, age at exposure, and prior tobacco use, are already incorporated into the NASA cancer risk model used to determine safe days in space for US astronauts. Here, we examine other risk factors that could potentially be included in risk calculations. These include personal and family medical history, the presence of pre-malignant cells that could undergo malignant transformation as a consequence of radiation exposure, the results from phenotypic assays of radiosensitivity, heritable genetic polymorphisms associated with radiosensitivity, and postflight monitoring. Inclusion of these additional risk or risk reduction factors has the potential to personalize risk estimates for individual astronauts and could influence the determination of safe days in space. We consider how this type of assessment could be used and explore how the provisions of the federal Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act could impact the collection, dissemination and use of this information by NASA.
Highlights
In spaceflight, astronauts are exposed to a radiation environment consisting of a uniform flux of background galactic cosmic radiation with intermittent pulses of high energy protons from solar particle events
This article discusses how potential approaches for the detection of inter-individual differences in susceptibility to radiogenic cancer could impinge on the federal Genetic Information Non-discrimination Act of 2008 (GINA) and explores whether an employer (i.e., NASA) could lawfully use the information in employment or work assignment decisions
Synopsis Individual risk of radiation carcinogenesis might be more accurately calculated by including family history of cancer and/ or personal medical history including a history of colon polyps or breast biopsies. An assumption in this approach is that breast or colon cancer risk from space radiation exposure can be predicted, at least partly, from background risk by a transfer model incorporating multiplicative risk
Summary
Individuals differ in their susceptibility to radiogenic cancers, and there is evidence that this inter-individual susceptibility extends to HZE ion-induced carcinogenesis. We examine other risk factors that could potentially be included in risk calculations These include personal and family medical history, the presence of pre-malignant cells that could undergo malignant transformation as a consequence of radiation exposure, the results from phenotypic assays of radiosensitivity, heritable genetic polymorphisms associated with radiosensitivity, and postflight monitoring. Inclusion of these additional risk or risk reduction factors has the potential to personalize risk estimates for individual astronauts and could influence the determination of safe days in space.
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
