Scientists in Australia have made an exciting discovery that could change the way we understand how cancer begins.
A research team from Flinders University found that small, circular pieces of genetic material called circular RNAs might play a hidden but important role in triggering cancer.
These tiny molecules were once thought to be unimportant. But now, researchers have found that certain circular RNAs can actually stick to the DNA in our cells and cause it to break. When DNA breaks, cells try to repair it. However, these repairs are not always perfect. Sometimes they create small mistakes—called mutations—that can lead to cancer.
The team, led by Professor Simon Conn, discovered a brand-new process they named ER3D, which stands for endogenous RNA-directed DNA damage. It’s the first time scientists have seen natural RNA molecules in the body directly causing damage to DNA. This might explain how cancer starts from inside our own cells.
To investigate this further, the researchers looked at blood samples from newborn babies. They compared babies who later developed a blood cancer called acute leukemia to those who stayed healthy.
The babies who developed leukemia were found to have high levels of a specific circular RNA from birth. This suggests that the cancer process may begin very early in life.
Professor Conn explained that circular RNAs can attach to many different parts of DNA, causing breaks in the genetic code. When the cell tries to fix these breaks, it can sometimes make mistakes.
For example, two genes that are normally separate might accidentally join together. This is called gene fusion, and it is known to cause some of the most aggressive forms of leukemia and other cancers.
Dr. Vanessa Conn, the lead author of the study, added that more than one circular RNA can act at once, leading to even more breaks in the DNA. This raises the risk of serious changes in the cell’s genetic structure.
One of the most dangerous changes is called chromosomal translocation. This happens when pieces from two different chromosomes—the structures that carry our DNA—fuse together. This is a well-known trigger for fast-growing cancer cells.
What’s even more striking is that these circular RNAs seem to target the exact spots in the DNA that are often mutated in leukemia patients. These areas are called hotspots. Until now, scientists didn’t know what caused them. This study suggests circular RNAs might be the missing piece of the puzzle.
Leukemia is a major health concern in Australia, which has one of the highest rates of the disease in the world. If circular RNAs are proven to be responsible for early gene damage, it could lead to new tools for detecting cancer early or even preventing it before it starts.
Although the study focused on leukemia, the researchers believe that ER3D might also be involved in other cancers and diseases. Their team is now working to learn more about how these circular RNAs affect health and how we might stop them from doing harm.
This groundbreaking research, published in the journal Cancer Cell, opens a whole new path in the fight against cancer. By learning how cancer may start deep inside our own DNA, scientists hope to find better ways to detect, treat, and even prevent it in the future.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
