Sister chromatid exchange in cancer.

Sister chromatid exchange (SCE) techniques have been shown to have great potential for use in the in vitro screening of suspected mutagens and carcinogens. Application of these techniques to bone marrow cells and/or lymphocytes from patients with various hematologic malignancies has demonstrated significant abnormalities in SCE frequencies in some of these diseases, as well as showing drug treatment effects. Interpretation of abnormal SCE findings in cancer patients is currently hindered by the lack of a clear understanding of the basic molecular and biochemical mechanisms involved in SCE formation. The potential practical use of SCE techniques in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer can not adequately be appreciated until this basic understanding is achieved.