Human skin fibroblasts from individuals genetically predisposed to cancer are sensitive to an SV40-induced T antigen display and transformation.

In the present study we have used a viral probe to determine the genetic susceptibility of fibroblastic cell strains derived from individuals with hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum (ACR), an autosomal dominant trait. This report shows an increased sensitivity of apparently karyologically-normal diploid skin fibroblasts from ACR individuals to an SV40-induced T antigen display and transformation. None of the SV40-transformed cells grew as tumors in athymic mice and they all appeared to have a finite life span. The results suggest that the induction of T antigen positive cells by SV40 may be used as a marker of cancer risk in this cell system.