New Insights on Genetic Damage of Some Chemotherapies

Scientists from the Wellcome Sanger Institute, the University of Cambridge, Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), and their collaborators have conducted a systematic study of the genetic effects of chemotherapy on healthy tissues, specifically on blood cell genomes. The research, published in Nature Genetics, reveals that many, but not all, chemotherapy agents cause mutations and premature aging in healthy blood cells. The study analyzed blood cell genomes from 23 patients of all ages who had been treated with various chemotherapies and found that some chemotherapy agents, such as platinum agents, cause high numbers of mutations. The researchers suggest that this genetic information could guide the future treatment of patients with effective chemotherapies that have less harmful effects on healthy tissues.

Key Takeaways:

• The study analyzed blood cell genomes from 23 patients of all ages who had been treated with various chemotherapies.
• The researchers found that many, but not all, chemotherapy agents cause mutations and premature aging in healthy blood cells.
• The study identified four new mutational signatures associated with specific chemotherapy drugs.
• Platinum agents, such as carboplatin and cisplatin, were found to cause very high numbers of mutations.
• The researchers suggest that genomic information could help choose chemotherapies for children that minimize premature aging and help monitor for further changes later in life.
• The study lays the groundwork for future research into the effects of chemotherapy on multiple tissues and guide the optimization of treatment plans to deliver effective chemotherapies with fewer damaging side effects.
• The researchers hope that the genomic information from this and future studies will guide choices of chemotherapies and their adoption in clinical practice.

Statistics:

• The study analyzed blood cell genomes from 23 patients of all ages who had been treated with various chemotherapies.
• 21 different chemotherapy drugs from all major classes were used in the 23 patients.
• 9 healthy individuals who had never received chemotherapy served as a control group.
• The researchers found that 3-year-old patient who was treated for neuroblastoma had more than the number of mutations found in 80-year-olds who had never received chemotherapy.
• The study identified four new mutational signatures associated with specific chemotherapy drugs.

Sources:

• Mitchell, E. et al. (2025) 'The long-term effects of chemotherapy on normal blood cells'. Nature Genetics. DOI: 10.1038/s41588-025-02234-x
• Press Release: "New insights on genetic damage of some chemotherapies could guide future treatments with less harmful side effects." Wellcome Sanger Institute.
• Cancer Research UK. (2020). Cancer Grand Challenges. Retrieved from
• Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. (n.d.). About Us. Retrieved from