Pancreatic cancer cells dividing. Random mutations in DNA are behind two thirds of adult cancers, a study says. Photograph: Visuals Unlimited, Inc.\/Dr. Stan\/Getty Images\/Visuals Unlimited<\/p>\n
Most cases of cancer are largely the result of bad luck rather than unhealthy lifestyles, diet or inherited genes, new research suggests. <\/p>\n
Random mutations that occur in DNA when cells divide are largely responsible for two thirds of adult cancers across a wide range of tissues. <\/p>\n
The remaining third are linked to environmental factors or defective inherited genes. <\/p>\n
But the scientists warn that poor lifestyle can add to the bad luck factor involved in cancer. <\/p>\n
The researchers analysed published data on the number of divisions of self-renewing stem cells that occur in an average lifetime in 31 different tissues. <\/p>\n
These results were compared with the lifetime incidence of cancer in the same tissues. <\/p>\n
A strong correlation was seen between a particular tissues stem cell division rate and its likelihood of developing cancer. <\/p>\n
The more often cells divide, the more likely it is that letters of their genetic code will become jumbled, leading to an increased cancer risk. <\/p>\n
Overall, the study found that random mutations due to stem cell division could largely explain around 65% of cancer incidence. <\/p>\n
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See the article here: Pancreatic cancer cells dividing. Random mutations in DNA are behind two thirds of adult cancers, a study says. Continue reading
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