Nature - A study conducted by a team of Dutch researchers shows that mutations accumulate steadily (at a rate of about 40 new mutations a year) in different tissues (liver, small intestine and colon), despite the considerable differences in cancer incidence among these tissues. This study suggest that environmental factors may play a role in determining such results.

 

Tissue-specific mutation accumulation in human adult stem cells during life

 

Authors: Francis Blokzijl, Joep de Ligt, Myrthe Jager, Valentina Sasselli, Sophie Roerink, Nobuo Sasaki, Meritxell Huch, Sander Boymans, Ewart Kuijk, Pjotr Prins, Isaac J. Nijman, Inigo Martincorena, Michal Mokry, Caroline L. Wiegerinck, Sabine Middendorp, Toshiro Sato, Gerald Schwank, Edward E. S. Nieuwenhuis, Monique M. A. Verstegen, Luc J. W. van der Laan, Jeroen de Jonge, Jan N. M. IJzermans, Robert G. Vries, Marc van de Wetering, Michael R. Stratton, Hans Clevers, Edwin Cuppen & Ruben van Boxtel

 

Nature 538, 260–264, doi:10.1038/nature19768. Published online: 03 October 2016.