Recent advances in the study of the hereditary and environmental basis of childhood leukemia.
Progress in the study of the biological characteristics of cancer and genetic factors, such as genomic stability, DNA repair, cell-cycle control, and genes encoding enzymes involved in carcinogen metabolism and detoxication, is changing our insight into how heredity contributes to the risk of childhood leukemia. Although familial leukemia is very rare, the role of inherited genes in the etiology of acute leukemia needs to be reevaluated. Our understanding of genetic factors predisposing individuals to certain types of leukemia might also implicate environmental factors as an additional risk factor in the development of leukemia. Recent progress in the study of the hereditary and environmental factors of childhood leukemia is reviewed and discussed here.
Mizutani
S
S
Department of Virology, National Children's Medical Research Center, Tokyo, Japan. smizutani@nch.go.jp
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D005192:Family Health; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007938:Leukemia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors