Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential and malignant neoplasms

Clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential (CHIP) is associated with aging and is a risk factor of many diseases including malignant neoplasms (MNPs). It originates through somatic mutations in hematopoietic stem and/or progenitor cells, promotes development of hematological MNPs and underlies unfavorable prognosis in solid malignant tumors. Results of recent largescale genome-wide studies confirmed that CHIP plays a role in oncological diseases. Mutations associated with this pathology were found in stem and/or progenitor cells in patients with both hematological and solitary MNPs which indicates that CHIP potentially mediates development of malignant tumors. Cytotoxic chemoradiation therapy is closely associated with CHIP development and causes emergence of aggressive and treatment-resistant hematological MNPs. In patients with solitary MNPs, TET2 gene mutations with high variant allele frequencies were also found in the tumors. This phenomenon was named tumor-infiltrating clonal hemopoiesis. Further populational studies of patients with solitary MNPs will allow to evaluate the role of tumor-infiltrating clonal hemopoiesis in oncogenesis. The ability of age-associated somatic clonal expansions in one tissue, namely hematopoietic compartment, to affect oncogenesis in another tissue is a new concept requiring further investigation and potentially capable of providing deeper understanding of cancer biology.The review explores the association between CHIP, aging, and oncological diseases with a particular emphasis on solitary MNPs. The ways for better understanding of the role of CHIP in oncogenesis and possibilities of using its clinical potential for cancer treatment are discussed.