A groundbreaking study led by Flinders University in Australia has unveiled a novel mechanism by which cancer may originate within the body. The research focuses on circular RNAs, a recently identified class of genetic fragments, which have been found to bind to DNA and induce mutations that can lead to cancer. This process, termed “endogenous RNA-directed DNA damage” (ER3D), represents the first documented instance of a genetic molecule capable of mutating human DNA and initiating cancer. The findings suggest that circular RNAs could serve as early markers for cancer diagnosis and potential targets for future therapeutic interventions.
In their investigation, the researchers analyzed neonatal blood samples, commonly known as Guthrie cards, from infants who later developed acute leukemia and compared them to samples from children who remained free of blood disorders. The results revealed significantly higher levels of specific circular RNAs in those who developed leukemia, indicating that an abundance of certain circular RNAs may promote the activation of oncogenes—genes that have the potential to cause cancer. Lead author Dr. Vanessa Conn highlighted that multiple circular RNAs can collaborate to induce DNA breaks at various locations, leading to chromosomal translocations. This rearrangement or fusion of DNA segments can result in harmful gene combinations, transforming normal cells into malignant ones. While this study primarily focused on leukemia, the researchers posit that the ER3D mechanism could be implicated in other cancer types and diseases, paving the way for innovative diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Click for More Details
