Platinum chemotherapy may cause decades' worth of DNA changes in children's healthy cells
A study published in Science reveals that platinum-based chemotherapy can cause long-term DNA damage in the healthy liver cells of children. Researchers found that these treatments can accelerate cellular aging, potentially explaining the increased risk of secondary health issues in childhood cancer survivors.
Why it matters
Identifying these genetic impacts is crucial for developing future medical strategies to mitigate long-term side effects for pediatric cancer survivors.
edited by Sadie Harley , reviewed by Robert Egan
This article has been reviewed according to Science X's editorial process and policies . Editors have highlighted the following attributes while ensuring the content's credibility:
Add as preferred source Histological image of a liver post chemotherapy. Credit: TRCE laboratory, Francis Crick Institute. The amount of DNA damage caused by certain chemotherapies used to effectively treat childhood cancer has been revealed, along with a hidden impact on the liver, paving the way for future research into new ways to mitigate these effects.
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