A new study has uncovered molecular markers in blood at birth that are linked to later development of acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL), the most common cancer type that affects children.

These markers were also present in cancerous tissues from children with leukaemia, and they served as indicators of patient survival. The research, published in Molecular Cancer, offers new hope for early diagnosis and potential therapeutic interventions in childhood cancer, which is the leading cause of death among diseases in children.

The study, led by scientists from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) in collaboration with 17 partner institutions worldwide including Murdoch Children’s Research Institute (MCRI), used an innovative approach to trace the molecular origins of cancer back to birth.

The researchers profiled molecular maps in patients at various stages: birth, diagnosis, remission and recurrence.

At the core of these maps is the epigenome, which intricately weaves DNA strands into a molecular imprint of nature and nurture: what our genes provide, and how the environment influences them. This allows the epigenome to capture a molecular snapshot – a kind of diary – of early-life factors that the baby was exposed to during pregnancy.

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Childhood leukemia, particularly acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), is the most common type of cancer in children, accounting for nearly 75% of all pediatric leukemia cases. ALL is a cancer of the white blood cells, which form part of the body’s immune system. It occurs when immature white blood cells, called lymphoblasts, multiply uncontrollably, crowding out healthy cells in the bone marrow and leading to symptoms like fatigue, frequent infections, bone pain, and bruising.

While the exact cause of ALL is unknown, factors like genetics and environmental influences during early development may play a role in its onset. Despite advancements in treatment, childhood leukemia remains a leading cause of cancer-related death in children, underscoring the need for early detection and innovative therapies to improve survival rates.

This study’s findings of molecular markers in blood at birth mark an exciting step forward in understanding and potentially intervening in the earliest stages of childhood leukemia.