[Chemotherapy and mutagenesis. A study of chromosome aberrations as a test for mutagenesis after the use of cyclophosphamide, methotrexate and cytosine arabinoside].

Determination of chromosomal aberration in the lymphocyte cell culture of the peripheral blood in 50 children with malignant and nonmalignant diseases was the test applied in the investigation of the adverse effects of the cytostatic therapy on the human genome. The study included the cytostatic drugs cyclophosphamide, methotrexat and cytosine arabinoside which are used in the treatment for the autoimmune diseases, in organ and bone marrow transplantations and in malignant diseases. It was confirmed that these cytostatics could be the cause of considerable structural aberrations in chromosomes, particularly so when high dosages and long application are involved. Therefore it is understandable that these drugs as mutagens can be the cause of the secondary cancer in patients treated with cytostatic therapy and also of the congenital malformations in children by mothers treated with these medications.