For half a century, cancer researchers have struggled with a confusing paradox: If cancer is caused by the occurrence and accumulation of cancer-causing (oncogenic) mutations over time, young children should get less cancer as they have fewer mutations. Why then do young children have a higher incidence of leukemia than teenagers and young adults?

A new study shows that the evolutionary force of genetic drift contributes to the ability of cancerous cells to overtake populations of healthy cells in young children. In contrast, genetic drift contributes almost not at all to leukemia formation in adults. The finding suggests important new avenues for leukemia treatment in very young patients.

Source: Childhood Leukemias Forged By Different Evolutionary Forces Than In Older Adults