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Jasmin Hundal: What Drives Cancer Risk in Adults vs. Children?

Jasmin Hundal/X

Feb 25, 2025, 13:56

Jasmin Hundal: What Drives Cancer Risk in Adults vs. Children?

Jasmin Hundal, Hematology Oncology Fellow at Cleveland Clinic, shared a post on LinkedIn:

“What Drives Cancer Risk in Adults vs. Children?

A recent WHO post sparked a discussion on how cancer risk factors differ between adults and children.

While nearly 40% of cancers are linked to modifiable risk factors, inherent biological factors also play a critical role in cancer development. These non-modifiable risks—including genetics, aging, and hormonal influences—are key determinants in individual susceptibility to cancer.

Genetic Predisposition:

Hereditary mutations in genes like BRCA1/BRCA2 significantly increase the risk of breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers.
Lynch syndrome (deficient DNA mismatch repair) is associated with colorectal and endometrial cancers.
TP53 mutations drive early-onset cancers, including breast cancer, sarcomas, and brain tumors.
Polygenic risk scores help refine individual cancer risk beyond single-gene mutations.

Aging and Cancer Risk:

Accumulated genetic mutations in tumor suppressor genes (e.g., TP53, RB1) increase cancer susceptibility over time.
Epigenetic modifications can silence tumor suppressor genes, facilitating tumor growth.
Declining immune surveillance reduces the body’s ability to detect and eliminate emerging cancer cells.
Chronic inflammation and oxidative stress contribute to DNA damage and tumor progression.

Hormonal and Biological Influences:

Hormonal exposure.
Androgen signaling influences prostate cancer risk.
Parity and breastfeeding

Environmental and Random Factors:

Spontaneous DNA replication errors occur with aging and contribute to sporadic cancers.
Oxidative stress and reactive oxygen species accelerate DNA damage.
Growth factors, such as IGF-1 and insulin, can promote tumor progression in metabolic disorders.

While non-modifiable risk factors cannot be changed, their identification allows for personalized risk assessment, proactive screening, and tailored prevention strategies to improve outcomes.

Reference.”

Jasmin Hundal: What Drives Cancer Risk in Adults vs. Children?

Androgen BRCA1 BRCA2 cancer cancer risk Cleveland Clinic DNA endometrial cancers fight against cancer Global fight against cancer Jasmin Hundal OncoDaily Oncology prostate cancers sporadic cancers TP53 WHO

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