Child leukaemia 'genes' revealed

Genetic flaws that increase the risk of the most common form of childhood leukaemia have been uncovered by British scientists.

The three variants each raise the risk by between 30% and 60%, said the Institute of Cancer Research team.

But they stressed that other things, such as childhood infections, may also play a role.

Leukaemia Research said the clues offered by the research, in the journal Nature Genetics, may improve care.

Leukaemia is the most common childhood cancer, with approximately 500 new cases each year in the UK, and Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia (ALL) accounts for roughly 85% of these.