A groundbreaking study led by Flinders University in Australia has revealed that circular RNAs, a recently discovered type of genetic fragment, may significantly influence a person’s risk of developing cancer.
These circular RNAs can bind to DNA within our cells, triggering mutations that potentially lead to cancer.
This phenomenon, termed “ER3D” (endogenous RNA-directed DNA damage), offers a new perspective on how cancer can originate from within the body.
Professor Simon Conn, who heads the Circular RNAs in Cancer Laboratory at Flinders University, describes this as the first evidence of a genetic molecule capable of mutating human DNA and initiating cancer.
These findings suggest that circular RNAs could be used as early markers for cancer diagnosis and as targets for future treatments, opening new possibilities for preventing and curing cancers.
The researchers compared neonatal blood samples, commonly known as Guthrie cards, from babies who later developed acute leukemia with samples from children who remained free of blood disorders.
They found significantly higher levels of a specific circular RNA in the samples from those who developed leukemia. This strongly indicates that an abundance of certain circular RNAs in cells could promote the development of cancer-related genes, known as oncogenes.
According to Professor Conn, circular RNAs can attach to DNA in various cells, causing disruptions that lead to DNA breakage. While cells attempt to repair this damage to survive, these repairs are often flawed. These imperfections can result in small mutations or, in severe cases, major structural changes to the DNA.
In some instances, circular RNAs can also alter the physical position of damaged DNA within the cell nucleus. When repairs fuse two different DNA regions, it can create new, harmful combinations of genetic material.
Dr. Vanessa Conn, the lead author of the study, highlighted that multiple circular RNAs can work together, breaking DNA at several locations. This can lead to a process known as chromosomal translocation, where DNA segments are rearranged or fused in harmful ways.
Such gene fusions are particularly dangerous because they can transform normal cells into cancerous ones. This mechanism was shown to play a key role in the rapid onset of aggressive leukemia.
The gene fusions caused by circular RNAs frequently occur at well-known “hotspots” associated with leukemia mutations. These hotspots are linked to poorer patient outcomes and have long been used to guide treatment decisions.
However, until now, the origin of these mutations was not well understood. The discovery of circular RNAs’ role provides critical insight into how these damaging mutations form.
While this study focused on leukemia, the researchers believe that ER3D is not limited to this type of cancer. Circular RNAs may play a similar role in other cancers and possibly other diseases.
The team at Flinders University is continuing their investigations into how these genetic fragments influence disease development, with the hope of paving the way for innovative treatments and diagnostic tools.
Understanding the role of circular RNAs in cancer offers a new avenue for prevention and early detection. If specific circular RNAs can be identified and targeted, it may become possible to mitigate the DNA damage they cause, reducing the risk of cancer.
This discovery also highlights the importance of further research into how environmental and genetic factors interact in cancer development. By combining these findings with existing knowledge, scientists can move closer to comprehensive cancer prevention strategies.
For those interested in reducing cancer risks, other studies have suggested links between artificial sweeteners and cancer, as well as the potential benefits of vitamin D supplements in lowering cancer mortality rates.
As the fight against cancer advances, new discoveries like these bring hope for better outcomes and improved understanding of this complex disease.
The study was published in Cancer Cell.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about vitamin D and bowel cancer, and a cautionary note about peanuts and cancer.
For more health information, please see recent studies about the link between ultra-processed foods and cancer, and everyday foods to ward off pancreatic cancer.
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