Lymphocyte-specific genomic instability and risk of lymphoid malignancy.

Genetic instability is a force that links evolution, development and cancer. We have developed a quantifiable assay for a particular kind of lymphocyte-specific genetic instability (antigen receptor trans-rearrangements) mediated by the V(D)J recombinase complex. We find that the level of this type of instability correlates (at the population level) with risk for lymphoid malignancy. We have developed a murine model for this measure of instability to allow a more refined analysis of the genetic and environmental factors that sum to define population cancer risk.