Cancer is a complex disease that develops when cells in the body grow out of control. For many years, scientists have tried to understand exactly how normal cells turn into cancer cells.
We already know that damage to DNA plays a key role. DNA carries the instructions that tell cells how to function, grow, and divide. When this instruction system is damaged, cells can begin to behave in harmful ways.
A new study led by Flinders University in Australia has now uncovered an important and surprising piece of this puzzle. The researchers found that a special type of genetic material, called circular RNA, may directly damage DNA and increase the risk of cancer.
To understand why this matters, it helps to know a little about RNA. Most people are familiar with DNA, but RNA is another type of molecule inside our cells. It usually helps carry instructions from DNA so the body can make proteins. For a long time, scientists thought RNA mainly had this supporting role.
However, circular RNA is different. Unlike normal RNA, which has a straight structure, circular RNA forms a closed loop. Because of this shape, it behaves differently and can stay stable inside cells for longer periods. Only in recent years have scientists begun to understand its functions.
In this study, researchers discovered that circular RNAs can interact directly with DNA in a harmful way. They can bind to DNA and cause breaks or damage. This process has been given a new name: endogenous RNA-directed DNA damage, or ER3D. This means the damage comes from within the body itself, not from outside sources like radiation or chemicals.
Professor Simon Conn, who led the research team, explained that this is the first time scientists have found a type of genetic molecule that can directly cause mutations in human DNA and potentially start cancer. This finding changes how researchers think about the origins of cancer.
To explore this idea further, the team studied blood samples taken from newborn babies. These samples, known as Guthrie cards, are usually collected shortly after birth for routine health checks. The researchers compared samples from children who later developed a type of blood cancer called acute leukemia with samples from children who remained healthy.
They found that the children who later developed leukemia had much higher levels of a specific circular RNA in their blood at birth. This suggests that the presence of certain circular RNAs may increase the risk of cancer long before any symptoms appear.
The researchers also studied how these circular RNAs cause damage. They found that these molecules can attach to DNA in different types of cells and trigger breaks in the DNA strands. Although cells try to repair this damage, the repair process is not always accurate. Small mistakes can occur, and these mistakes can build up over time.
In some cases, the damage is more serious. Circular RNAs can cause large changes in the structure of DNA. For example, pieces of DNA from different parts of the genome can become incorrectly joined together. This process is known as chromosomal translocation. When this happens, it can create new and harmful gene combinations.
Dr. Vanessa Conn, the lead author of the study, explained that multiple circular RNAs can work together to break DNA at several points. This increases the chance of serious genetic errors. These errors can activate genes that promote cancer, known as oncogenes.
The study showed that these harmful changes often occur in areas of DNA that are already known to be linked to leukemia. These areas, sometimes called mutation hotspots, are associated with more aggressive forms of the disease and poorer outcomes for patients.
One important aspect of this discovery is that it helps explain how these dangerous mutations begin. Until now, scientists knew these mutations existed, but they did not fully understand what caused them. Circular RNAs may be a key part of that answer.
Although the research focused on leukemia, the scientists believe this process may also happen in other types of cancer. Circular RNAs could play a broader role in disease than previously thought.
This discovery opens up new possibilities for medicine. If doctors can detect harmful circular RNAs early, they may be able to identify people at higher risk of cancer before the disease develops. In the future, treatments might also be designed to block or control these RNAs, preventing them from damaging DNA.
The study also highlights how complex cancer is. It shows that both genetic and internal biological factors can work together to influence disease. Understanding these processes more clearly will help scientists develop better ways to prevent and treat cancer.
The findings were published in the journal Cancer Cell. This research provides a new direction for future studies and offers hope that one day we may be able to stop cancer before it even begins.
If you care about cancer, please read studies about how to fight cancer with these anti-cancer superfoods ,and a berry that can prevent cancer, diabetes and obesity.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how to harness the power of anti-cancer foods and supplements, and cancer-fighting foods and recipes.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
