Research shows what causes up to 90 percent of cancer

As reported in News Medical, firstly, they re-examined the association between lifetime cancer risk for lung, pancreatic and colorectal cancer, as well as cancer of other tissues, and the division of normal tissue stem cells in the individuals reported in the Science paper.   Their findings showed that tissue with similar stem cell divisions did not show a similar observed lifetime cancer risk and concluded that intrinsic factors only play an important role in around 10% of cancers.

Then secondly, the team analysed studies on mutational signatures in cancer and identified 30 distinct signatures among various cancers. The signatures were categorized as having either extrinsic or intrinsic origins. The analysis showed that the majority of cancers such as lung, colorectal, bladder and thyroid cancers had large numbers of mutations that were likely caused by extrinsic factors.

Thirdly, the researchers assessed the Surveillance, Epidemiologic and End Results Program data, which showed that the incidence of cancer and cancer mortality have been increasing, suggesting that external factors contribute heavily to these cancers.

Finally, the team used known gene mutations and the likelihood that they arise due to intrinsic mutations rates to perform computational modeling and determine the contribution of intrinsic factors to the development of cancer.

Co-author of the paper Yusuf Hannun says the scientific team’s approach “provides a new framework to quantify the lifetime cancer risks from both intrinsic and extrinsic factors, which will have important consequences for strategising cancer prevention, research and public health.

With all the additional genetic research around, we all worry about whether one day we will be found to have cancer.  And for those already confronted by it, the curiosity over its cause is not small.

Are you pleased to see research on Cancer making solid advances? Do you know someone affected genetically or environmentally with cancer?