Massive DNA study of human cancers offers new clues about their causes – UK scientists analysed the complete genetic makeup of 12,000 tumours from NHS patients

A team of UK scientists has analysed the complete genetic makeup of 12,000 tumours from NHS patients and discovered 58 new mutations that provide clues about their potential causes. The team, composed of scientists from Cambridge University Hospitals and the University of Cambridge, used data from the 100,000 Genomes Project. That’s a British initiative to sequence the whole genomes of patients with cancers and rare diseases.

“The reason it is important to identify mutational signatures is because they are like fingerprints at a crime scene — they help to pinpoint cancer culprits,” Nik-Zainal explained. Some signatures could show that past exposure to environmental causes such as smoking or UV light had triggered the cancer, while others could have treatment implications. They could, for instance, pinpoint genetic abnormalities that could be targeted by specific drugs.

See https://www.engadget.com/dna-study-human-cancers-new-causes-110356799.html

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