Scientists map the genetic evolution of a type of T-ALL

The key genetic events responsible for initiating the early stages of a type of childhood leukaemia have been identified by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research, London.

Scientists have tracked the branching pattern of evolution in a form of childhood leukaemia – and identified a ‘founder’ mutation that may be the trigger for development of the disease. They believe the findings could be used in the development of new targeted drugs.

The research, which was funded by the blood cancer research charity Bloodwise, is published in the journal Leukemia.

Leukaemia develops when DNA faults – or ‘mutations’ – occur in maturing blood cells, triggering further genetic mutations that cause the cells to grow out of control.....

Read the full article at https://www.icr.ac.uk/news-archive/scientists-map-the-genetic-evolution-of-childhood-leukaemia