NEW HOPE IN CANCER TREATMENT AS SCIENTISTS TARGET ROGUE DNA

Mario Nawfal

@MarioNawfal
🚨NEW HOPE IN CANCER TREATMENT AS SCIENTISTS TARGET ROGUE DNA

Scientists have discovered that targeting rogue loops of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) could be key to treating aggressive, drug-resistant cancers.

Research from nearly 15,000 UK cancer cases revealed that over 17% of hard-to-treat tumors carry these ecDNA fragments, which drive tumour growth and resistance to treatments.

A new drug in early trials, known as a CHK1 inhibitor, selectively attacks cells with ecDNA, reducing tumor growth in early mouse studies and preventing treatment resistance when paired with traditional therapies.

Experts are hopeful that targeting ecDNA could offer new treatment paths for patients with otherwise unresponsive cancers, transforming dire prognoses into manageable conditions.

Source: The Guardian