Some of the most common cancers in the United States, such as skin and lung cancer, are highly preventable through lifestyle choices. For example, skin cancers like melanoma often result from prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, while lung cancers are frequently linked to tobacco use.
However, determining the extent to which individual tumors develop due to preventable actions versus aging or random chance has been a longstanding challenge for scientists.
A recent study by researchers at Yale University has shed light on this issue by identifying the factors that cause DNA changes contributing most to cancer growth in various tumor types.
Previous research had established that specific factors could predict certain mutations in the genome. Building on this, the Yale team examined genetic mutations across 24 cancer types to determine the extent to which preventable exposures, like UV light, contributed to tumor growth.
By analyzing specific genetic mutations, the researchers were able to quantify the contribution of each mutation to cancer. This allowed them to assign a specific percentage of blame to both known and unidentified factors responsible for the emergence of cancer.
Their findings suggest that some cancers are more influenced by controllable factors than others. For instance, tumors in the bladder and skin are largely driven by preventable factors, while prostate cancers and gliomas are primarily attributed to internal, age-related processes.
The study’s findings could have significant implications for public health. Local populations or occupational groups experiencing unusually high cancer rates might use these insights to identify exposure to carcinogenic substances.
By capturing the proportion of factors contributing to cancer, the research offers a promising approach to uncovering the underlying causes of tumor growth.
While the current approach does not account for all genetic changes that lead to tumors—such as duplicated genes or chromosomes—the research represents a crucial step forward.
It suggests that with further study, public health officials could potentially identify cancer sources more quickly, preventing more tumors and saving lives.
This groundbreaking research, led by Jeffrey Townsend and his team, was published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution.
The findings underscore the importance of preventive measures and provide a valuable tool for understanding and mitigating the factors contributing to cancer development.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
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