Chromosomal instability in T-lymphocyte long-term cultures irradiated with carbon ions and X-rays

Introduction Blood as well as other normal tissues are unavoidably exposed to ionising radiation during a radiation therapy of tumours. Damage to haematopoietic cells in cancer patients undergoing radiation therapy is one of the important side effects and might result in secondary malignancies of the haematopoietic system. Genomic instability induced during radiation therapy might play a role in responses of tumour and of normal tissues located in the treatment volume or in its close proximity. Since the radiation-induced genomic instability in normal tissues including haematopoietic system could significantly increase the risk of secondary malignancies, the potential of heavy ions with respect to instability induction must be addressed.