Cancer Before Birth

According to a groundbreaking study by researchers at the Van Andel Institute, a person's lifetime risk for cancer may start even before they are born. Their findings were published in the journal Nature Cancer. It is more likely to be a liquid tumor, like leukemia or lymphoma, if cancer does arise in the reduced-risk condition. It is more likely to be a solid tumor, like prostate or lung cancer, if the cancer appears in a higher-risk state. Because most cancers occur later in life and are understood as diseases of mutation, or genetics, there hasn’t been a deep focus on how development might shape cancer risk. Our findings change that. Our identification of these two epigenetically different states open the door to an entirely new world of study into the underpinnings of cancer. Andrew Pospisilik As people age, their risk of developing cancer rises due to a build-up of DNA damage and other factors. However, not all aberrant cells develop into cancer. Researchers have recently discovered other factors that contribute to cancer, such as epigenetic mistakes. Processes known as epigenetics influence when and how DNA instructions are executed. Epigenetic issues have the potential to disrupt cellular quality control mechanisms, allowing diseased cells to proliferate and persist. Pospisilik and colleagues discovered that, although otherwise identical, mice with decreased Trim28 gene expression can exhibit one of two patterns of epigenetic marks on genes linked to cancer. Throughout development, certain patterns are formed. Which of the two cancer risk states materializes depends on how strong the patterns are. Also Read: Research discovered gene expression regulation in cancer and cellular functions Everyone has some level of risk but, when cancer does arise, we tend to think of it just as bad luck. However, bad luck doesn’t fully explain why some people develop cancer and others don’t. Most importantly, bad luck cannot be targeted for treatment. Epigenetics, on the other hand, can be targeted. Our findings show that cancer’s roots may start during the sensitive period of development, offering a new perspective to study the disease and potential new options for diagnosis and treatment. Ilaria Panzeri Source: Van Andel Institute - News Journal Reference: Panzeri, Ilaria et al. “TRIM28-dependent developmental heterogeneity determines cancer susceptibility through distinct epigenetic states.” Nature cancer, 10.1038/s43018-024-00900-3. 24 Jan. 2025, DOI:10.1038/s43018-024-00900-3. Last Modified: