Tracing the origin of pediatric leukemia using single-cell genome sequencing

Aging is the primary risk factor for cancer, but children also develop the disease. In fact, some cancers, such as leukemia, display a higher incidence in children compared to adolescents, despite their younger cells having less age-related damage. Learn how Dr. van Boxtel's research group applies single-cell whole genome sequencing to explore why children develop cancer. By combining phylogenetic and mutational signature analyses, they have found that the genetic alterations driving pediatric leukemia were often acquired years before diagnosis. DNA serves as a historical archive, allowing them to trace the origins of pediatric leukemia and understand the processes that cause it.