Genetic Aberrations in Chernobyl‐Related Thyroid Cancers: Implications for Possible Future Nuclear Accidents or Nuclear Attacks

Cases of thyroid cancer among children in Belarus represent a unique model system in which the cause of the cancer is known ‐ radiation. Although other sources of radiation‐induced cancers are diminishing (survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and individuals exposed to diagnostic or therapeutic radi...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:IUBMB life 2003-12, Vol.55 (12), p.637-641
Main Authors: Ermak, Gennady, Figge, James J., Kartel, Nikolai A., Davies, Kelvin JA
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Adult
Air Pollution, Radioactive
Child
children
Chromosome Aberrations - radiation effects
Humans
Mutation - radiation effects
Mutations
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - diagnosis
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - epidemiology
Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced - genetics
Nuclear Warfare
radiation
Radioactive Fallout
Radioactive Hazard Release
Republic of Belarus - epidemiology
Thyroid Neoplasms - diagnosis
Thyroid Neoplasms - epidemiology
Thyroid Neoplasms - etiology
Thyroid Neoplasms - genetics
Ukraine
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Summary:Cases of thyroid cancer among children in Belarus represent a unique model system in which the cause of the cancer is known ‐ radiation. Although other sources of radiation‐induced cancers are diminishing (survivors of Hiroshima and Nagasaki, and individuals exposed to diagnostic or therapeutic radiation) fears of radiation exposure from accidents and terrorism are increasing. Our analysis of current data reveals that Chernobyl‐related cancer cases might have a specific pattern of genetic aberrations. These data strongly confirm the hypothesis that radiation‐induced cancers might arise as a result of specific gene aberrations that are distinct from those in sporadic cancers, suggesting that methods of prevention and treatment of radiation‐induced cancers might require a different approach. Understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Chernobyl‐related papillary thyroid carcinomas will help to identify mechanisms by which radiation causes aberrations and oncogenic cell transformation. Thus, in turn, it will be important in the development of new treatments or technologies to minimize the effects of radiation damage from nuclear accidents or nuclear attacks. IUBMB Life, 55: 637‐641, 2003
ISSN:1521-6543
1521-6551
DOI:10.1080/15216540310001638789