Nature 250, 599 - 601 (16 August 1974); doi:10.1038/250599a0

Susceptibility of xeroderma pigmentosum cells to chromosome breakage by adenovirus type 12

H. F. STICH, W. STICH & P. LAM

Cancer Research Centre, University of British Columbia, Vancouver 8, Canada

DNA repair-deficient microbial systems have attracted considerable attention because they offer an insight into the genetic control of sensitivity towards mutagens and carcinogens¹. These studies have become highly relevant to man with Cleaver's discovery² that cells of most patients with xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) have a reduced level of DNA repair synthesis following ultraviolet-irradiation or exposure to several chemical carcinogens³⁻⁶. The impaired repair capacity of XP cells seems to result in their greater sensitivity towards the lethal⁶⁻¹⁰ and chromosome-damaging action¹¹⁻¹² of those physical and chemical carcinogens which induce irreparable DNA alterations. On the other hand the behaviour of XP cells does not differ from that of controls when treated with several potent alkylating mutagens and carcinogens^5,10,12,13.

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