Constitutive Fragile Sites and Cancer

Abstract

Breaks were observed at 51 sites in homologous chromosomes in lymphocytes from ten humans and two great apes when cells were deprived of thymidine. The incidence of breaks was enhanced by caffeine, a substance that inhibits DNA repair in replicating cells. The locations of 20 sites were correlated with breakpoints that have been related to human malignancy.