‘Like fingerprints at a crime scene’: study finds new clues about causes of cancer

For first time it is possible to detect patterns in cancers' DNA - opening up to possible personalised treatments

Analysis of thousands of tumours has unveiled a treasure trove of clues about the causes of cancer, representing a significant step towards the personalisation of treatment.

Researchers say that for the first time it is possible to detect patterns - called mutational signatures - in the DNA of cancers.