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Review
. 2020 Jul;67(7):e28335.
doi: 10.1002/pbc.28335. Epub 2020 May 11.

Why do young people get cancer?

Alex Kentsis  1
Affiliations
Review

Why do young people get cancer?

Alex Kentsis. Pediatr Blood Cancer. 2020 Jul.

Abstract

Oncologists and cancer biologists are frequently confronted by the question of what causes cancer? This is particularly vexing for cancers affecting children and young adults who have had limited exposure to environmental mutagens and the effects of aging. Here, I focus on a general framework of the causes of early-onset cancer development in children and young adults by relating inherited and constitutional cancer predisposition, oncogenic pathogens, and developmental mutations. This framework has implications not only for mechanistic investigation of young cancers, but should also clarify improved strategies for their treatment, screening, and potential prevention.

Keywords: oncogenes; oncology; pediatric hematology/oncology; tumor biology.

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Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Mechanisms of inherited cancer predisposition
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Causes of oncogenic mutations in early-onset cancers
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Possible interactions among inherited or constitutional cancer predisposition, oncogenic pathogens, and developmental mutations
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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