University of Arizona-led researchers found that loss of the Y chromosome in men’s body tissue may flag early cancer risk even when tissue still appears normal.
The study said this age-related loss creates a pre-neoplastic field effect, leaving surrounding tissue genetically vulnerable to developing cancer.
Y-chromosome loss was highest in normal-looking tissue near cancers of the colon, rectum, oesophagus, pancreas and lung.
The findings point to chromosome loss as a potential early warning marker for men before those cancers become clinically obvious.