Mammographic screening induces DNA damage in human mammary cells, which is more prominent in high risk patients. - GreenMedInfo Summary
DNA double-strand breaks induced by mammographic screening procedures in human mammary epithelial cells.
Int J Radiat Biol. 2011 Jul 29. Epub 2011 Jul 29. PMID: 21797809
Abstract Purpose: To assess in vitro mammographic radiation-induced DNA damage in mammary epithelial cells from 30 patients with low (LR) or high (HR) family risk of breast cancer. Materials and methods: Spontaneous and radiation-induced DNA double-strand breaks (DSB) were quantified by using immunofluorescence of the phosphorylated H2AX histone (γH2AX) in different conditions of mammography irradiation (2, 4, 2+2 mGy). Results: HR patients showed significantly more spontaneous γH2AX foci than LR patients (p=0.014). A significant dose-effect was observed, with an exacerbation in HR patients (p=0.01). The dose repetition (2+2 mGy) providedmore induced and more unrepaired DSB than 2 mGy and 4 mGy, and was exacerbated in HR (p=0.006). Conclusions: This study highlights the existence of DSB induced by mammography and revealed by γH2AX assay with two major radiobiological effects occurring: a low-dose effect, and a LOw and Repeated Dose(LORD) effect. All these effects were exacerbated in HR patients. These findings may lead us to re-evaluate the number of views performed in screening using a single view (oblique) in women whose mammographic benefit has not properly been proved such as the 40-49 and HR patients.