[Clonal hematopoiesis]

Clonal hematopoiesis is a condition in which hematopoietic cells undergo clonal expansion, often accompanied by the acquisition of driver gene mutations. This is now known to occur inevitably in elderly adults as somatic mutations accumulate in hematopoietic stem cells with aging. Various driver genes associated with clonal hematopoiesis-such as epigenetic regulators and signaling molecules-have been identified, many of which are shared with hematological malignancies. It takes approximately 30 years from the acquisition of the initial driver mutation in clonal hematopoiesis to the onset of hematological cancer, and genetic background also contributes to the initiation and progression of clonal hematopoiesis. Furthermore, clonal hematopoiesis is not only involved in the development of hematological malignancies, but also plays a role in the onset and progression of cardiovascular diseases and cancers in other organs. In the future, the development of therapies targeting clones with driver mutations is also anticipated.