Age distinguishes selection from causation in cancer genomes
David Cheek, Martin Blohmer, Martin A Nowak, Tibor Antal, Kamila Naxerova · 2026
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Description
Cheek and co-authors sort true cancer drivers from harmless age changes in a 2026 paper. Gene changes flagged as cancer-linked often come from selection signals in tumors. Yet normal tissue also selects changes as it ages. The team built a math frame that compares cancer and normal genomes to split the two effects.
They gauged mutation effects on cancer risk in blood, gullet, and colon. Stronger drivers clustered in younger patients, so age patterns alone can flag likely drivers. For one blood cancer, age patterns explained much of what looked like child-specific mutation needs. The authors say the frame sharpens risk calls for single mutations.
Catalog record
| CREATOR | David Cheek, Martin Blohmer, Martin A Nowak, Tibor Antal, Kamila Naxerova |
|---|---|
| YEAR | 2026 |
| COLLECTION | PAPERS |
| FORMAT | TXT |
| FILE SIZE | 74 KB |
| VERSION | 1.0 |
| LICENSE | CC BY 4.0 |
| RIGHTS | CC BY |
| SOURCE | Europe PMC |