Genetic variant appears to protect some people against certain blood cancers
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Over time, hematopoietic or blood stem cells can quietly acquire mutations that push them to divide just a little more aggressively, creating a larger group of clones in the bone marrow. In a fraction of people with this phenomenon, called clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential \u2014 CHIP, for short \u2014 these cells can transform into cancers such as leukemia, though most will remain benign.<\/p>\n
One possible reason for this variability might lie in a genetic variant that appears to protect against the development of CHIP and its progression into certain blood cancers, according to a study published on Thursday<\/a> in Science. The work also reveals a potential avenue to develop new therapeutics for the pre-cancerous condition, something that cancer researchers have sought for years.<\/p>\n