Transcriptome-Wide Association Study identifies genetic factors linked to subsequent cancers in childhood cancer survivors
Published on 29 September 2026
Dr Michael Betti speaks to ecancer about a transcriptome-wide association study (TWAS) in 4,279 childhood cancer survivors from the St. Jude Lifetime Cohort Study.
The study identifies genetically regulated gene and enhancer RNA expression associated with the risk of subsequent neoplasms. Several associations were replicated in the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study and supported by differential expression in subsequent tumour tissue.
Dr Betti says that the analysis also identified gene-treatment interactions, including associations modified by chemotherapy and radiation exposure, providing insights into the biological mechanisms underlying subsequent cancer risk and potential approaches to future risk stratification.