In a pioneering study from Flinders University in Australia, scientists have made a remarkable discovery that could change the way we understand and treat cancer.
They’ve found out that certain circular strands of RNA, a type of genetic material, have a significant impact on whether a person might get cancer.
These circular RNAs can attach themselves to our DNA, the blueprint of life inside each cell, and this can lead to changes in the DNA that may cause cancer. This discovery opens up new pathways for treating and detecting cancer much earlier than before.
The team at Flinders University, led by Professor Simon Conn, has brought to light how these circular RNAs work in a way that was unknown before. Unlike anything seen in the past, these RNAs have the power to change our DNA from within, potentially leading to cancer.
This insight is a big deal because it offers new targets for cancer therapy and early detection, which could greatly increase the chances of beating the disease.
The researchers made this groundbreaking discovery by comparing blood samples taken from newborns with those of children who later developed acute leukemia, a type of blood cancer, and those who didn’t develop any blood disorders.
They found that the children who got leukemia had a higher amount of a specific circular RNA in their blood. This suggests that having more of these circular RNAs might make it more likely for someone to develop certain types of cancer.
Professor Conn explains that these circular RNAs can attach to different parts of our DNA in various cells. This attachment can lead to a series of events that eventually break the DNA, and the cell then has to fix this damage to survive.
However, the repair process isn’t perfect and can lead to changes or mutations in the DNA. Sometimes, these changes are small, but other times they can be large and very harmful.
Moreover, these RNAs can move the broken DNA parts within the cell’s nucleus, leading to the joining of two different DNA parts that shouldn’t normally come together.
Dr. Vanessa Conn, another key member of the research team, highlights that several circular RNAs can work together, breaking the DNA at multiple points.
This can lead to chromosomal translocation, a serious issue where parts of chromosomes are rearranged, causing normal cells to turn into cancerous ones. This is particularly problematic in aggressive types of leukemia.
This study is crucial because it sheds light on how some genetic mutations associated with poor outcomes in leukemia patients occur.
These mutations, known as gene fusions, are common in Australia, which has the highest rates of leukemia in the world. Understanding how these mutations come about could significantly influence treatment choices.
Looking forward, the research team believes that the role of circular RNAs in causing cancer isn’t just limited to leukemia but might extend to other types of cancer and diseases.
They are continuing their research, which could lead to significant breakthroughs in cancer treatment and early disease detection.
In addition to the findings about circular RNAs, the study encourages further reading on related health topics, such as the link between artificial sweeteners and cancer risk, the impact of milk consumption on heart disease and cancer, and the benefits of vitamin D supplements in reducing cancer death rates.
The team’s work, published in Cancer Cell, represents a new frontier in the ongoing battle against cancer, offering hope that with this new knowledge, more effective treatments and early detection methods can be developed.
If you care about cancer, please read studies that low-carb diet could increase overall cancer risk, and new way to increase the longevity of cancer survivors.
For more information about cancer, please see recent studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods, and results showing daily vitamin D3 supplementation may reduce cancer death risk.
Copyright © 2024 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
