Organization of actin-containing cables in cultured skin fibroblasts from individuals at high risk of colon cancer.

Actin-containing cables were examined by immunofluorescence in cultured skin fibroblasts from individuals genetically prone to colon cancer. The study confirmed our earlier finding of an altered distribution of actin-containing cables in skin fibroblasts of patients with hereditary adenomatosis of the colon and rectum (ACR) (Kopelovich et al., 1977). Abnormalities were also found in about one-half of the asymptomatic offspring at risk for ACR, while a polyposis-free branch of one ACR family showed a normal pattern of actin-containing cables. Persons from colon cancer-prone (CCP) families without polyposis, and normal controls, showed no disturbance in the actin patterns. The results suggest that this phenotypic marker may be useful in identifying ACR gene carriers and in probing cellular controls of carcinogenesis.