Researchers find genetic variant contributing to disparities in childhood leukemia risk
Acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), the most common childhood cancer, disproportionately affects children of Hispanic/Latino origin in the United States. They are 30–40% more likely to get ALL than non-Hispanic white children, but the exact genetic basis and cause of that increased risk are unknown. Now, a study from the Keck School of Medicine of USC has revealed a key genetic variant contributing towards the increased risk, as well as details about the biological basis of ALL.