Inflammatory Cells & Prognosis
- As individuals age, mutations tend to accumulate within the DNA of their cells.
- Elsa Bernard, a researcher in computational oncology at the Gustave-Roussy Institute in Villejuif, France, notes that the prevalence of these age-related mutations in blood cells increases with age.
- Professor Jean-Yves Blay, an oncologist and director general of the Léon-Bérard anti-cancer center in Lyon, France, added that these mutations have long been recognized as an indicator of...
Age-Related Mutations in Blood Cells Linked to Cancer Risk
As individuals age, mutations tend to accumulate within the DNA of their cells. These molecular irregularities are readily detectable in hematopoietic cells, the blood cells produced in bone marrow.
Elsa Bernard, a researcher in computational oncology at the Gustave-Roussy Institute in Villejuif, France, notes that the prevalence of these age-related mutations in blood cells increases with age. “At 60, about 5% of individuals exhibit these mutations. By age 80, the rate rises to 15%,” Bernard said.
Professor Jean-Yves Blay, an oncologist and director general of the Léon-Bérard anti-cancer center in Lyon, France, added that these mutations have long been recognized as an indicator of aging. “In rare instances,they can trigger blood cancers,” Blay stated.
While the risk remains low,Bernard cautions that,”In 1% of people with these changes,the 10-year risk of developing leukemia is 50%.”
Impact on Solid Tumors
Research indicates that approximately 25% of individuals with solid tumors, across all age groups, also display these age-related changes in their blood cells. This phenomenon is associated with a less favorable prognosis.
Age-Related Mutations in Blood Cells and Cancer Risk: Your questions Answered
