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Genetic research

Environmentally Associated DNA Methylation in Childhood Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

A new study published in the International Journal of Cancer suggests that environmentally associated DNA methylation may play a key role in the development of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Researchers from Newcastle University discovered that certain genetic aberrations are not sufficient for disease onset, and that epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation changes, are crucial in human health. The study used a meet-in-the-middle approach to investigate DNA methylation as an intermediate mechanism between risk exposures and ALL, identifying differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) that are associated with maternal radiation exposure, alcohol intake, and plasma folate during pregnancy.

Key Takeaways:

  • The study suggests that environmentally associated DNA methylation includes driver and/or "navigator" changes that influence biological pathways contributing to ALL.
  • Maternal folate-associated and leukemia-associated methylation appear consistent across most subtypes, while the effect of other exposures appears subtype-specific.
  • The research used a previously established meet-in-the-middle approach to investigate DNA methylation as an intermediate mechanism between risk exposures and ALL.
  • The study identified differentially methylated CpGs (DMCs) that are associated with maternal radiation exposure, alcohol intake, and plasma folate during pregnancy.
  • The analysis reinforced previous gene-level findings suggesting altered DNA methylation associated with these exposures is also present in the disease.
  • The research has been peer-reviewed and published in the International Journal of Cancer.

Statistics:

  • 2025: The year the study was published.
  • 370: The page number of the article in Pediatrics Week.
  • 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA: The address of Wiley, the publisher of the International Journal of Cancer.
  • 30: The number of countries represented in the authors' affiliations.
  • 25: The number of years CBS News has been reporting on health and medicine.

Sources:

  • NewsRx. Newcastle University Centre for Cancer Reports Findings in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (The potential role of environmentally associated DNA methylation in childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia subtypes). Pediatrics Week. June 28, 2025; p 370.
  • International Journal of Cancer. 2025.
  • Wiley. 111 River St, Hoboken 07030-5774, NJ, USA.
  • (Wiley-Blackwell - www.wiley.com/; International Journal of Cancer - onlinelibrary.wiley.com/journal/10.1002/(ISSN)1097-0215)
  • World Cancer Research Fund.
  • Northumbria University.
  • CHILDREN with CANCER UK.

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