[Genetic etiology of esophageal cancer. VI. Significance of endoreduplication in the cultured lymphocytes from members of high risk cancer families in Linxian County].

Studies on 7045 metaphase plates in cultured lymphocytes of 40 members from 4 high risk esophageal cancer families in Linxian County are reported. It was found that there were 58 endoreduplication and tetraploid cell appearance in 7045 cells of 18 members out of 40 (45%), with a frequency of 0.82%. Furthermore, 21% of cells with endoreduplication were found in one member of high risk cancer families. Thereupon, we conjecture that these endoreduplication cells may play an important role in the esophageal carcinogenesis in the high risk cancer families in Linxian County.