Scientists find DNA variants linked with childhood kidney cancer

An international collaboration led by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR) has found variations of the genetic code in two regions of the genome that increase the risk of developing Wilms tumour – the most common kidney cancer occurring in children.

The causes of the tumour are not known in most children but genes are known to play a role.

Using an approach called a genome wide association study, the team compared common DNA variants in the genetic code of almost 1,500 Wilms tumour patients with those in 3,850 healthy people in the US and UK.

They found two regions of the DNA code on chromosomes 2 and 11 containing variants that were significantly more common among patients with Wilms tumour.

Importantly, the DNA regions where these changes have been identified include genes that are known to be involved in other cancers and diseases. Their identification provides insight into the biological pathways that may cause Wilms tumour, and are a potential target for new drugs.

A single-letter change in the DNA code found on chromosome 11 (rs790356 at 11q14) was in the gene DLG2, which is part of a biological system that ensures correct tissue growth during development. Disruption of this pathway has previously been linked to cancer. On chromosome 2, two single-letter changes in the DNA (rs3755132 at 2p24) were found near the gene DDX1, which is involved in repairing damaged DNA. A number of known cancer genes have similar roles in DNA repair.

The team also identified three other DNA variants that were also likely to be linked to Wilms tumour that they are investigating further.

The study was published in Nature Genetics