X-ray sensitivity of diploid fibroblasts from patients with hereditary or sporadic retinoblastoma.

Abstract
Fibroblasts derived from patients with hereditary retinoblastoma appear to be more sensitive to the lethal effects of X-rays than fibroblasts from patients with sporadic retinoblastoma or normal controls. A defect in DNA repair is postulated to account for the high incidence of 2nd tumors in these patients. Retinoblastoma appears to be an interesting model for the study of genetic susceptibility to the development of spontaneous or radiation-induced tumors.