2495

FTH1

FHC|FTH|FTHL6|PIG15|PLIF;ferritin, heavy polypeptide 1;FTH1;ferritin, heavy polypeptide 1

apoferritin|cell proliferation-inducing gene 15 protein|ferritin H subunit|ferritin heavy chain|placenta immunoregulatory factor|proliferation-inducing protein 15

11q13

protein-coding

Genetic factors are important for developing primary and subsequent malignanciesin children. This study investigated the role of genetic factors involved in DNA-repair. Designed as a feasibility study, it addressed the possibility of obtaining samples for genetic analyses from former patients through the German childhood cancer Registry. Testing feasibility was as important as the biological question itself. We analyzed the expression of DNA-repair genes in untreated primary fibroblasts of 20 individuals with a second neoplasm compared to 20 matched single neoplasm cases using customized cDNA microarrays (1344 gene sequences, about 800 genes). Matching was by first neoplasm, age, and year of first diagnosis. Forty-six percent of the 52 contacted second neoplasm cases and18% of the 132 single neoplasm patients participated in the study. The DNA-repair gene results show small differences in the basal gene expression of FTH1 and CDKN1A. To our knowledge, this is the first study using gene expression arrays in untreated primary fibroblasts regarding second neoplasms after a childhood neoplasm. We were able to recruit childhood cancer patients for genetic analyseslong after diagnosis. The biological importance of the differences in the DNA-repair gene expression has to be elucidated yet.