title: The prenatal origins of cancer.
abstract: The concept that some childhood malignancies arise from postnatally persistent embryonal cells has a long history. Recent research has strengthened the links between driver mutations and embryonal and early postnatal development. This evidence, coupled with much greater detail on the cell of origin and the initial steps in embryonal cancer initiation, has identified important therapeutic targets and provided renewed interest in strategies for the early detection and prevention of childhood cancer.
authors.affiliation: Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia; and the Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Lowy Cancer Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Glenn M
authors.initials: GM
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.affiliation: Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Lowy Cancer Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Daniel R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.affiliation: Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Lowy Cancer Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Belamy B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Cheung
authors.affiliation: Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Lowy Cancer Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Tao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children's Hospital, Randwick 2031, New South Wales, Australia; and the Children's Cancer Institute Australia for Medical Research, Lowy Cancer Centre, University of New South Wales, Randwick 2031, Australia.
authors.forename: Marion K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Mateos
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA.
authors.forename: Justin G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Meyerowitz
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158, USA.
authors.forename: William A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001402:B-Lymphocytes / Q000502:physiology; D063646:Carcinogenesis / Q000235:genetics; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D002648:Child; D004314:Down Syndrome / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D004622:Embryo, Mammalian / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D042822:Genomic Instability; D006801:Humans; D008527:Medulloblastoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D009154:Mutation; D009196:Myeloproliferative Disorders / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology; D009432:Neural Crest / Q000473:pathology; D009447:Neuroblastoma / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology; D054198:Precursor Cell Lymphoblastic Leukemia-Lymphoma / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D011247:Pregnancy