Advancements in genetic research have led to the first "comprehensive compendium of mutational processes that drive tumor development," according to a news release.
"We have identified the majority of the mutational signatures that explain the genetic development and history of cancers in patients," Ludmil Alexandrov, first author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said in a news release. "We are now beginning to understand the complicated biological processes that occur over time and leave these residual mutational signatures on cancer genomes."
The findings were published in the journal Nature.
The study explains the process of genetic mutations found in 30 common cancers. Researchers suggest their findings are a scientific milestone that may help treat and prevent many cancers.
Cancers are reportedly caused by mutations in DNA that may occur in the human body depending on many factors. Exposure to UV rays may lead to mutations in skin cells that cause cancer. It is common knowledge chemicals in tobacco smoke cause mutations in lung cells, which may lead to lung cancer. However, there are also genetic factors that cause mutations.
"Each mutational process leaves a particular pattern of mutations, an imprint or signature, in the genomes of cancers it has caused," Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute said in a news release. "By studying 7,042 genomes of people with the most common forms of cancer, the team uncovered more than 20 signatures of processes that mutate DNA. For many of the signatures, they also identified the underlying biological process responsible."
According to the news release, cancers contain two or more "signatures" that work together in developing cancer process. Each signature has its own mutational process: "For example, two mutational processes underlie the development of ovarian cancer, while six mutational processes underlie the development of liver cancer."
By studying 30 cancer types, researchers found 25 signatures related to one's age in the mutational process. Another signature was linked to repairing DNA, making some woman susceptible to breast cancer genes BRCA1 and 1, which also linked to ovarian and pancreatic cancers.
"Through detailed analysis, we can start to use the overwhelming amounts of information buried deep in the DNA of cancers to our advantage in terms of understanding how and why cancers arise,"Dr Serena Nik-Zainal, author from the Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, said in a news release. "Our map of the events that cause the majority of cancers in humans is an important step to discovering the processes that drive cancer formation."
