Review

Nature Reviews Cancer 6, 193-203 (March 2006) | doi:10.1038/nrc1816

Infection, immune responses and the aetiology of childhood leukaemia

Mel Greaves1  About the author

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Childhood leukaemia is the principal subtype of paediatric cancer and, despite success in treatment, its causes remain enigmatic. A plethora of candidate environmental exposures have been proposed, but most lack a biological rationale or consistent epidemiological evidence. Although there might not be a single or exclusive cause, an abnormal immune response to common infection(s) has emerged as a plausible aetiological mechanism.

Author affiliations

  1. The Institute of Cancer Research, Chester Beatty Laboratories, 237 Fulham Road, London SW3 6JB, United Kingdom.
    Email: mel.greaves@icr.ac.uk

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