Abstract: OBJECTIVE: To compare the difference on the frequency of apoptosis induced by choline(CC) and folic acid(FA) deficiency in lymphoblast cell lines from breast cancer patient carrying BRCA1 genetic mutation and healthy control. METHODS: Lymphoblast cell lines from breast cancer patient carrying BRCA1 genetic mutation and healthy control were cultured under different media with 24 concentration combination of CC(0～21.5 μmol/L) and FA(30～240 nmol/L) for 9 days. Apoptosis(APO) frequencies of two cell lines was analysed by cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay (CBMN Cyt) . RESULTS: The APO frequencies of two cell lines were significantly decreased at and over 6 μmol/L CC or 120 nmol/L FA (P<0.01 or P<0.05). The APO frequencies in cell line of case group were lower than the control cell line in all combinations . After the genetic damage background was reduced, there was no statistical significance(P>0.05) in APO frequencies difference of two cell lines. CONCLUSION: Apoptosis of lymphoblast cell lines from breast cancer patients was not more sensitive to CC and FA than control group.

Key words: choline, folic acid, cytokinesis-block micronucleus cytome assay, lymphoblast