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Mutation signatures of carcinogen exposure: genome-wide detection and new opportunities for cancer prevention.

Publication ,  Journal Article
Poon, SL; McPherson, JR; Tan, P; Teh, BT; Rozen, SG
Published in: Genome Med
2014

Exposure to environmental mutagens is an important cause of human cancer, and measures to reduce mutagenic and carcinogenic exposures have been highly successful at controlling cancer. Until recently, it has been possible to connect the chemical characteristics of mutagens to actual mutations observed in human tumors only indirectly. Now, next-generation sequencing technology enables us to observe in detail the DNA-sequence-level effects of well-known mutagens, such as ultraviolet radiation and tobacco smoke, as well as endogenous mutagenic processes, such as those involving activated DNA cytidine deaminases (APOBECs). We can also observe the effects of less well-known but potent mutagens, including those recently found to be present in some herbal remedies. Crucially, we can now tease apart the superimposed effects of several mutational exposures and processes and determine which ones occurred during the development of individual tumors. Here, we review advances in detecting these mutation signatures and discuss the implications for surveillance and prevention of cancer. The number of sequenced tumors from diverse cancer types and multiple geographic regions is growing explosively, and the genomes of these tumors will bear the signatures of even more diverse mutagenic exposures. Thus, we envision development of wide-ranging compendia of mutation signatures from tumors and a concerted effort to experimentally elucidate the signatures of a large number of mutagens. This information will be used to link signatures observed in tumors to the exposures responsible for them, which will offer unprecedented opportunities for prevention.

Duke Scholars

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Published In

Genome Med

DOI

ISSN

1756-994X

Publication Date

2014

Volume

6

Issue

3

Start / End Page

24

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • 3105 Genetics
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
  • 0604 Genetics
 

Citation

APA
Chicago
ICMJE
MLA
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Poon, S. L., McPherson, J. R., Tan, P., Teh, B. T., & Rozen, S. G. (2014). Mutation signatures of carcinogen exposure: genome-wide detection and new opportunities for cancer prevention. Genome Med, 6(3), 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/gm541
Poon, Song Ling, John R. McPherson, Patrick Tan, Bin Tean Teh, and Steven G. Rozen. “Mutation signatures of carcinogen exposure: genome-wide detection and new opportunities for cancer prevention.Genome Med 6, no. 3 (2014): 24. https://doi.org/10.1186/gm541.
Poon SL, McPherson JR, Tan P, Teh BT, Rozen SG. Mutation signatures of carcinogen exposure: genome-wide detection and new opportunities for cancer prevention. Genome Med. 2014;6(3):24.
Poon, Song Ling, et al. “Mutation signatures of carcinogen exposure: genome-wide detection and new opportunities for cancer prevention.Genome Med, vol. 6, no. 3, 2014, p. 24. Pubmed, doi:10.1186/gm541.
Poon SL, McPherson JR, Tan P, Teh BT, Rozen SG. Mutation signatures of carcinogen exposure: genome-wide detection and new opportunities for cancer prevention. Genome Med. 2014;6(3):24.
Journal cover image

Published In

Genome Med

DOI

ISSN

1756-994X

Publication Date

2014

Volume

6

Issue

3

Start / End Page

24

Location

England

Related Subject Headings

  • 3105 Genetics
  • 1103 Clinical Sciences
  • 0604 Genetics