Radiation induced cancer arises from a somatic mutation

Abstract

Experimental data from the literature are presented to create a chain which links radiationinduced cancer in animals to cell reproductive death and then to chromosomal aberrationsand somatic mutations. The cancer data reveal the same peak value of cancer inductionfollowing different radiation exposures which leads to an association between cancerinduction and cell killing. Other data show a direct correlation between cell survival andchromosomal aberration yield independent of whether a sensitiser is used or not. Dataon the induction of somatic mutations in mammalian cultured cells show thesame direct relationship between mutation frequency and cell killing followingneutron and gamma ray exposures. Taken as a whole, the experimental dataprovide convincing evidence that radiation induced cancer arises from chromosomaldamage.