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Cancer and Genetics— The scientific community claims to have solved an old puzzle to the development of cancer. A new study from Cambridge University published in the international research journal ‘Nature’ has presented direct evidence that a person’s genetic structure determines how much external factors like smoking or sunlight will damage his DNA. The discovery explains why some heavy smokers survive cancer, while non-smokers also contract the deadly disease.

Key points of the study and mechanism of DNA damage

The study, led by Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute researcher Duncan Odum, made it clear that cancer does not occur entirely by chance. Researchers found that genetic variations that humans inherit determine how much environmental carcinogens (cancer-causing substances) will cause mutations within the body.

The team tested four different genetic strains of mice under controlled conditions in the laboratory to isolate the effects of human lifestyle and environmental variations. All of them were given the same dose of a carcinogen called diethylnitrosamine (DEN) at the age of 15 days. This chemical is found in tobacco smoke and some processed foods.

Researchers sequenced the genomes of about 600 tumors. The investigation found that tumor formation in all categories was triggered by mutations in an important signaling system called the MAPK pathway. However, due to different genetic backgrounds, this mutation has different effects on other cancer signaling pathways and duplication of the entire genome.

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Impact on cancer screening and precision medicine

These findings have the potential to change the way cancer is diagnosed and treated in the future. Until now, cancer screening and prevention methods have focused only on common environmental exposures. Following this new study, medical experts will have to create prevention policies that take into account the genetic diversity of the population and individual genetic risks. This will help make targeted therapy and personalized cancer treatment more effective in the future.