The effect of age on the acquisition and selection of cancer driver mutations in sun-exposed normal skin.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The accumulation of somatic mutations contributes to ageing and cancer. Sunlight is the principal aetiological factor associated with skin cancer development. However, genetic and phenotypic factors also contribute to skin cancer risk. This study aimed at exploring the role of photoaging, as well as other well-known epidemiological risk factors, in the accumulation of somatic mutations in cancer-free human epidermis.

Material and methods

We deeply sequenced 46 genes in normal skin biopsies from 123 healthy donors, from which phenotypic data (including age, pigmentation-related genotype and phenotype) and sun exposure habits were collected. We determined the somatic mutational burden, mutational signatures, clonal selection and frequency of driver mutations in all

SUBMITTER: Hernando B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7614988 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature