In a groundbreaking study, scientists in the US and UK have unveiled a new approach to tackling some of the most aggressive cancer by targeting rogue DNA known as extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA). Published in Nature Genetics, the research provides hope for a treatment breakthrough by focusing on these ecDNA fragments that drive tumor growth and resistance to chemotherapy.
By analyzing data from nearly 15,000 cancer patients across 39 tumor types in the UK, researchers found ecDNA present in over 16% of these cancers. Unlike typical chromosomal DNA, ecDNA appears to help tumors survive and evolve, making cancers harder to treat over time. Scientists observed that tumors with ecDNA had rapid mutations, leading to drug resistance and making treatment even more challenging. The study’s senior author, Roel Verhaak, from Yale School of Medicine, emphasized that ecDNA plays a critical role across various cancer types, including breast and lung cancers.
Encouragingly, researchers have identified a promising drug candidate that targets ecDNA-containing cancer cells, currently in early clinical trials. “Our goal is to find vulnerabilities in tumors with ecDNA,” Verhaak said. These ecDNA-targeting therapies could potentially benefit up to a third of cancer patients, offering a new and highly focused treatment strategy for advanced cancers.
This innovative approach could be pivotal for developing more effective cancer treatments and improving survival rates among patients with aggressive cancers.
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