Environmental Health Perspectives 105, Supplement 6, December 1997

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Chromosome Translocations: A Biomarker for Retrospective Biodosimetry

Joe N. Lucas

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, Livermore, California

Abstract
We discuss here the results from our studies demonstrating that simple translocations detected by chromosome painting can be used to reconstruct radiation doses for workers exposed within the dose limits and for individuals with past exposure. To be useful, a biomarker for exposure and risk assessment should employ an end point that is highly quantitative, stable over time, and relevant to human risk. Recent advances in chromosome staining using fluorescence in situ hybridization facilitate fast and reliable measurement of simple translocations, a type of DNA damage linked both to prior clastogenic exposure and to risk. In contrast to other biomarkers available, the frequency of simple translocations in individuals exposed to whole-body radiation is stable over time postexposure, has little interindividual variability, and can be measured accurately at low frequencies. -- Environ Health Perspect 105(Suppl 6):1433-1436 (1997)

Key words: chromosome translocation, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), Macaca mulatta, ionizing radiation, stability of translocations

This paper is based on a presentation at the International Conference on Radiation and Health held 3-7 November 1996 in Beer Sheva, Israel. Abstracts of these papers were previously published in Public Health Reviews 24(3-4):205-431 (1996). Manuscript received at EHP 15 July 1997; accepted 15 September 1997.

These studies were conducted under the auspices of the U.S. Department of Energy by the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory under contract W-7405-Eng-48.

Address correspondence to Dr. J.N. Lucas, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, University of California, P.O. Box 808, Livermore, CA 94551. Telephone: (510) 422-6283. Fax: (510) 422-2282. E-mail: lucas1@llnl.gov

Abbreviations used: EPR, electron paramagnetic resonance; FISH, fluorescence in situ hybridization; Gy, gray; LET, linear energy transfer; Sv, sieverts; U.S. DOE, U.S. Department of Energy.

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