Cancer ResearchDNA Mutation Clocks Reveal How Aging Drives Cancer Risk From Within
Every cell in your body quietly accumulates DNA mutations over time, and researchers have identified specific patterns — called clock-like mutational signatures — that tick forward with age like a molecular odometer. This review from the Institute of Cancer Research examines how these signatures, particularly SBS1 and SBS5, arise from replication errors, DNA damage, and faulty repair processes. Crucially, the authors explain how a steady, linear buildup of mutations can still produce the explosive, exponential rise in cancer rates seen in older adults. They also compare these mutational clocks to epigenetic aging biomarkers and explore how combining both approaches could revolutionize cancer risk prediction and early detection. The review points toward a future where personalized cancer prevention strategies are guided by an individual's unique mutational aging profile.
