No evidence of chromosomal instability in nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome.

The nevoid basal-cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is a rare multisystem disorder characterized by several alterations of the skin, skeletal, nervous, endocrine system. These patients are more susceptible to cancer and suggestions have been made about an association with the chromosomal breakage syndromes. We studied the induction of chromosomal aberrations by mitomycin C (MMC) and bleomycin and that of sister-chromatid exchanges by MMC and 4-nitroquinoline N-oxide in lymphocytes of 4 NBCCS patients. The frequencies of both spontaneous and induced cytogenetic effects were within normal ranges, suggesting that there is no chromosomal instability in NBCCS patients.