Study Ids DNA Damage Combos Behind Cancer Mutations

An international study co-led by Spain's National Center for Oncological Research (CNIO) has identified the combinations of DNA-damaging processes that drive cancer mutations. The findings, published in the journal Nature, reveal how specific pairs of mutational signatures work together to produce the genetic changes seen in tumors.

By analyzing thousands of cancer genomes, the researchers mapped out which combinations of DNA damage mechanisms are most common and how they interact to accelerate mutation accumulation. This work could improve understanding of