Journal Article

DKFZ-2026-01832

http://join2-wiki.gsi.de/foswiki/pub/Main/Artwork/join2_logo100x88.png Genetic background sets the trajectory of experimental cancer evolution.

Aitken, S. J. ; Connor, F. ; Feig, C. ; Rayner, T. F. ; Lukk, M. ; Luft, J. ; Aitken, S. ; Arnedo-Pac, C. ; Hayes, J. F. ; Nicholson, M. D. ; Ewing, A. ; Sundaram, V. ; Verburg, J. C. ; Connelly, J. ; Anderson, C. J. ; Behm, M.DKFZ* ; Campbell, S. ; Daunesse, M. ; Kaiser, V. B. ; Kentepozidou, E. ; Pich, O. ; Redmond, A. M. ; Santoyo-Lopez, J. ; Sentís, I. ; Talmane, L. ; Consortium, L. C. E. (Collaboration Author) ; Flicek, P. ; López-Bigas, N. ; Semple, C. A. ; Taylor, M. S. ; Odom, D.DKFZ* ; Drews, R. M. (Contributor) ; Ginno, P. A. (Contributor)DKFZ* ; López-Arribillaga, E. (Contributor)

2026
Nature Publ. Group London [u.a.]

Abstract: Human cancers are heterogeneous1. Dissecting how germline genetic variation and environmental factors shape tumour evolution using human datasets is limited by inherent diversity in genetic backgrounds2 and environmental exposures3-5. Here, to overcome these limitations, we re-ran early tumour evolution hundreds of times in diverged inbred mouse strains, generating matched histology and whole-genome and transcriptome sequences. The sex, environment and carcinogenic exposures were all controlled, and the study design allowed us to capture genetic variation comparable with that observed across human populations while exploiting the nested hierarchical structure of strain-litter-animal-tumour relationships. Our analyses reveal that epistatic interactions between genetic background and acquired somatic mutations result in population-specific disease progression, including choice of driver mutations, occurrence of whole-genome duplication and subclonal selection dynamics that mirror both cancer susceptibility and tumour growth rate. Even modest genetic divergence, comparable with that found across human ancestry groups, can strikingly alter selection pressures during cancer development to shape both cancer risk and the trajectory of tumour evolution.

Note: epub

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Contributing Institute(s):

1. Regulatorische Genomik und Evolution von Tumoren (B270)

Research Program(s):

1. 312 - Funktionelle und strukturelle Genomforschung (POF4-312) (POF4-312)

Appears in the scientific report 2026

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Database coverage:
; BIOSIS Previews ; Biological Abstracts ; Chemical Reactions ; Clarivate Analytics Master Journal List ; Current Contents - Agriculture, Biology and Environmental Sciences ; Current Contents - Life Sciences ; Current Contents - Physical, Chemical and Earth Sciences ; DEAL Nature ; Ebsco Academic Search ; Essential Science Indicators ; IF >= 60 ; Index Chemicus ; JCR ; SCOPUS ; Science Citation Index Expanded ; Web of Science Core Collection ; Zoological Record

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