clonal hematopoiesis
Also written as: CHIP — clonal hematopoiesis of indeterminate potential
Age-related expansion of blood cell clones carrying somatic mutations, which can complicate interpretation of circulating tumor DNA testing in precision oncology.
Full Definition
Clonal hematopoiesis refers to the age-associated phenomenon where hematopoietic stem cells acquire somatic mutations that provide a competitive advantage, leading to clonal expansion in the bone marrow and peripheral blood. In precision oncology, clonal hematopoiesis presents a significant challenge for liquid biopsy interpretation, as mutations detected in circulating DNA may originate from expanded blood cell clones rather than tumor cells. Common genes involved include DNMT3A, TET2, and ASXL1. This phenomenon increases with age and can lead to false-positive results in ctDNA testing. Sophisticated bioinformatics approaches and clinical correlation are required to distinguish true tumor-derived mutations from clonal hematopoiesis artifacts.
Usage
Usage note: Distinguish from tumor-derived mutations; age context is crucial for interpretation.
In Context
- "The DNMT3A mutation was attributed to clonal hematopoiesis rather than tumor recurrence based on variant allele frequency and clinical context." — liquid biopsy interpretation report
- "Editorial guidance: Always consider clonal hematopoiesis when interpreting liquid biopsy results in elderly patients." — laboratory standard operating procedure