A study led by Spanish researchers identified a two-phase model that explains the origin of the most common childhood leukemia, which could open the door to future prevention strategies for this disease that affects blood cells.
The research, published Wednesday in the scientific journal Cell Reports, focuses on B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL), the most common childhood cancer.
The origin of childhood leukemia revealed
Two key phases identified in the origin of childhood leukemia: Studyhttps://t.co/qwRnOdW6UW
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The work was led by professors and researchers Namitha Thampi, Òscar Molina and Pablo Menéndez, from the Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences of the University of Barcelona and the Josep Carreras Leukemia Research Institute, both in Spain.
The study proposes that the disease originates in two distinct stages: the first, before birth, and the second, after birth.
In the first phase, in the mother’s uterus, some blood cells of the fetus show hyperdiploidy, i.e. an abnormally high number of chromosomes.
Specifically, between 35% and 40% of cases of B-ALL in children present this alteration, with cells having between 51 and 63 chromosomes instead of the usual 46.
In the second phase, which occurs after birth due to as yet unknown causes, the transformation of the cells is triggered until leukemia develops in the organism.
According to the researchers, there may be a window of two to six years between the two stages, which corresponds to the highest peak incidence of childhood lymphoblastic leukemias.
Origin of the disease
🧬🔎A study identified a two-phase model that explains the origin of the most common childhood leukemia, which could open the door to future prevention strategies for this disease.
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Hyperdiploidy also generates chromosomal instability, a phenomenon that alters the normal functioning of the cells, which, instead of growing rapidly, divide more slowly and remain in an immature state for a longer period of time.
This allows some to survive as “rare clones” in the bone marrow without initially causing disease.
“If among these cells there is a preleukemic clone with extra chromosomes, it can proliferate more than normal and accumulate additional genetic errors,” explained Òscar Molina, a member of the Department of Physiological Sciences at the University of Barcelona.
Precisely, these errors can end up triggering leukemia in children if new mutations are added.
“Better knowledge of these processes will be key to designing prevention strategies,” said Pablo Menéndez, a researcher at the Josep Carreras Research Institute.
Experts noted that some common infections could trigger the second phase by over-stimulating the immune system.
Technological advances and treatment
A study led by Spanish researchers has identified a model that explains the origin of the most common childhood leukemia, which could open the door to future prevention strategies for this cancer that affects blood cells.https://t.co/G83wnCwq2G
– LA PATRIA Newspaper (@lapatriacom) April 9, 2026
To discover this two-step origin, the study used advanced techniques such as single-cell genetic sequencing, which allows the DNA of each cell to be analyzed individually, as well as experimental models in mice to observe the evolution of cells in a living organism.
“The coincidence of the altered chromosomes with those observed in patients reinforces the relevance of the model,” Thampi noted.
Currently, B-ALL is one of the childhood cancers with the best prognosis, with cure rates between 80% and 90% thanks to treatments such as chemotherapy, bone marrow transplantation and immunotherapy.
However, a better understanding of its origin remains key to avoid its occurrence in pediatric patients and to design better prevention strategies.
Filed under: Revealing the origin of childhood leukemia
With information from EFE
