Heritability of cellular radiosensitivity: a marker of low-penetrance predisposition genes in breast cancer?

Heritability of cellular radiosensitivity is discussed relative to whether or not it may be related to low-penetrance predisposition genes in breast cancer. Heritability of radiosensitivity has been studied in families of women with breast cancer and distribution of radiosensitivities in family members demonstrated ad trimodal distribution. Evidence from segregation analysis of 95 family members clearly indicates heritability of radiosensitivity, one major gene accounting for 82% of variance between family members. Data are consistent with a range of models.