Comment on Daily pill can double survival time for deadliest cancer, trial showsComments−siva73moMore than 90% of patients with the most common form of pancreatic cancer, pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (mPDAC), have a mutation in the Kras gene.So pancreatic cancer is basically a genetic disease for most patients instead of environmental?−roadnottaken3moNo, the KRAS mutations are somatic (spontaneous), not inherited−AustinDev3moSo presumably something causes the spontaneous mutations?−M95D3moNature.DNA is unstable. Lots of stuff cause mutations: background radiation, chemicals, viruses, even our own normal metabolism [1].[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_oxygen_species#Oxidat...
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So pancreatic cancer is basically a genetic disease for most patients instead of environmental?
No, the KRAS mutations are somatic (spontaneous), not inherited
So presumably something causes the spontaneous mutations?
Nature.
DNA is unstable. Lots of stuff cause mutations: background radiation, chemicals, viruses, even our own normal metabolism [1].
[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reactive_oxygen_species#Oxidat...