DR-192 A comprehensive analysis of germline / somatic interactions

Over the last decade we have made significant progress in understanding which mutations are acquired by healthy cells before becoming cancerous. These mutations are called somatic, because they are acquired after the individual was conceived. In parallele, we also know that each person has inherited a unique combination of DNA variants from their parents. These are called germline variants and can predispose individuals towards different cancer types. What we still do not understand is how germline and somatic genetic variants interact with each other. Understanding this could have important implications for prevention and early detection of cancer and the identification of new therapies.

Eduard Porta Pardo Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute Spain