A naukri.com initiative
Bioengineer
1w
130
Image Credit: Bioengineer
Genetics and Treatment Type Influence Risk of Secondary Cancer Following Childhood Therapy
- A study by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital reveals genetic predisposition and prior cancer treatments jointly influence secondary cancer risk in childhood cancer survivors.
- Published in The Lancet Oncology, the research analyzes data from over 10,000 survivors, showcasing the impact of therapy exposures and genetic factors on secondary cancer development.
- Radiation emerges as the most significant contributor to second cancer risk, responsible for over 40% of the total burden, prompting efforts to minimize radiation doses in treatment.
- Chemotherapy's role varies by cancer subtype, contributing between 8% and 35% to subsequent malignancies, reflecting different mutagenic mechanisms.
- Genetic factors, assessed through polygenic risk scoring, account for 5% to 37% of secondary cancer risk, challenging previous beliefs about their impact.
- The study emphasizes personalized survivorship management using genetic risk profiling to tailor surveillance and preventive strategies, potentially improving early detection of secondary cancers.
- Lifestyle factors like diet and physical activity minimally influence second cancer risk in the studied cohort, underlining the importance of genetic and treatment histories in survivorship care.
- The research drives a shift towards combining genetic predisposition with treatment history for nuanced risk assessment, enhancing patient monitoring and resource allocation in clinical practice.
- Empowering survivors with personalized risk profiles fosters proactive healthcare engagement and aligns with patient-centered care principles, promoting shared decision-making.
- Interdisciplinary collaboration and advanced statistical analyses underpin this study, highlighting the value of integrating diverse data sources in understanding complex health outcomes.
- Supported by National Cancer Institute grants and philanthropic contributions, this research signifies an essential advancement in precision medicine for survivorship care in childhood cancer.
Read Full Article
7 Likes
For uninterrupted reading, download the app