Australian Researchers Discover Link Between Circular RNAs and Cancer Risk
Australian researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery regarding the connection between a person’s risk of developing cancer and the functions of circular RNAs (circular genetic fragments) found within our cells. The research, known as ‘ER3D’ (endogenous RNA directed DNA damage), has revealed that specific circular RNAs can bind to DNA in our cells, resulting in DNA mutations that can lead to the development of cancer.
To uncover this connection, the researchers conducted a study comparing neonatal blood tests of infants who later developed acute leukemia with those who did not have any blood disorders. They found that a specific circular RNA was present at significantly higher levels in infants who developed leukemia before the onset of symptoms.
According to the researchers, the abundance of circular RNA molecules within a person’s cells is a crucial determining factor in why some individuals develop cancer-causing genes or oncogenes, while others do not. Circular RNAs can bind to DNA at various locations in different cells, initiating changes that cause DNA breakage. The repair process of this breakage can result in small mutations or more severe mutations that have devastating effects.
Furthermore, circular RNAs have the ability to alter the physical location of broken DNA within the cell nucleus, leading to gene fusions that transform normal cells into cancerous cells. This chromosomal translocation, caused by circular RNAs, plays a significant role in the rapid onset of aggressive leukemia. The gene fusions occur at mutation “hotspots” in leukemia, impacting patient prognosis and treatment decisions.
While the impact of ER3D is not exclusive to leukemia, it extends to other types of cancer and human diseases. The research team at Flinders University, who conducted this study, is committed to further investigating the role of circular RNAs in cancer and other diseases. Their aim is to gain a better understanding and eventually develop potential therapeutic breakthroughs.
This groundbreaking discovery opens the doors for using circular RNAs as therapeutic targets and disease markers during the early stages of cancer when treatment chances are higher. The research has been published in the esteemed journal Cancer Cell.
As the medical and molecular biology communities delve deeper into this new field of study, it is hoped that further breakthroughs and advancements will be made. Ultimately, this research could lead to improved treatment options and patient outcomes for individuals battling cancer and other diseases.
