New research provides the first direct evidence that inherited genetics significantly influence an individual's cancer risk by interacting with acquired mutations. This could explain why some individuals are more susceptible to cancer than others, even with similar environmental exposures like smoking or UV rays.

Carried out in mice by scientists from the University of Cambridge, University of Edinburgh, and other institutions, the study controlled environmental factors to isolate the impact of genetic background. Researchers bred mice with varying genetic predispositions to liver cancer and exposed them to a carcinogen. By sequencing nearly 600 tumours, they observed that while cancers often reached the same biological endpoint, the path to development was shaped by the mice's inherited genetics.

Key findings suggest that genetic background influences mutation processes and tumor evolution pathways. This has implications for personalized cancer prevention, screening, and treatment strategies, which may need to account for inherited genetics and population diversity. Researchers Professor Duncan Odom and Dr Sarah Aitken highlighted that cancer development is not entirely random and can be guided by an individual's genetic makeup.