Breakthrough in Cancer Treatment: Targeting Rogue DNA Circles

Stanford Medicine researchers have discovered that extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) circles, previously considered insignificant, play a crucial role in cancer development. Their studies, published in Nature, reveal that ecDNAs are prevalent in 17.1% of tumors and are linked to cancer progression and drug resistance. The research also highlights a novel inheritance mechanism of ecDNAs that challenges traditional genetic laws. A new therapy targeting these DNA circles is in clinical trials, offering hope for treating cancers with ecDNA-driven oncogene amplifications.