Forces driving leukemia differ in kids and adults

“With a large population of healthy cells optimized to young, healthy tissue, the ability of mutations, including cancerous mutations, to drive uncontrolled cell proliferation is reduced,” Dr DeGregori said.

However, in old age, tissue decline promotes selection for adaptive mutations, leading to the expansion of potentially oncogenic HSC clones that will again increase the risk of leukemia.

Thus, this research shows that, in early life, leukemias are driven by mutation and drift. And in later life, leukemias are driven by mutation and selection.

“We show that leukemias of children and older adults are different diseases, forged by different evolutionary forces and propagated under different circumstances,” Dr DeGregori said.

He and his colleagues believe this understanding raises the possibility of a new approach to cancer treatment. Perhaps researchers could find a way to manipulate the parameters of cell evolution or manipulate the tissue ecosystem to decrease cancer risk.