Human genetic markers as tracers of tumour histogenesis

Abstract

The G-6-PD marker system has been successfully employed to investigate the development of several tumours. However, the aetiologies of most studied human tumours are unknown. If X-linked genetic marker studies could be done in tumours with known aetiology, the results might have implications for neoplasms of unknown cause. This approach is currently limited by the small number of human neoplasms for which an aetiological agent has been defined, and by inability to detect markers at the cellular level for X-linked loci with frequently occurring variant alleles other than G-6-PD. Until more markers are discovered, continued investigation of human tumours with X-linked markers is essentially confined to black populations. In addition to further studies of hereditary tumours, warts, and Burkitt lymphoma, it should be profitable to include other tumours that arise in more or less defined circumstances, such as those associated with radiation exposure, organic chemicals, and endocrine and immunological changes. Once suitable X-linked markers are discovered in lower organisms, direct studies can be done. Hopefully, information gained from subhuman primates would have a bearing on the causes of human malignancies.