Skin fibroblasts from humans predisposed to colon cancer are not abnormally sensitive to DNA damaging agents.

We report here that skin fibroblasts from individuals with hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum (ACR), an autosomal dominant trait, were not abnormally sensitive to x-rays, UV-light or MNNG. ACR cells were also competent in restoring x-rays and UV-light induced damage of SV40 T-antigen expression following infection of these cells by the irradiated virus. We concluded, therefore, that sensitivity to x-rays, UV-light and MNNG can not be used to identify gene-carriers dominantly predisposed to colon cancer.