Less G₂arrest in irradiated cells of breast cancer patients than in female controls: a contribution to their enhanced chromosomal radiosensitivity?

Abstract

The lesser mitotic inhibition in patients than in female controls might contribute to their greater mean G(2) chromosomal radiosensitivity. However, this hypothesis is not easily reconciled with other observations that (1) the significant difference in inhibition between the sexes in controls was not accompanied by any gender difference in radiosensitivity and (2) there was an inverse correlation between inhibition and age in controls, yet no age-related increase in radiosensitivity. There might, therefore, be no causal relationship between G(2) mitotic inhibition and chromosomal radiosensitivity.