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How ecDNA Fuels Cancer by Breaking the Laws of Biology | HHMI

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As it faces off against the body, cancer cheats. New research investigates one of its more audacious tricks: stashing cancer-driving genes in circular pieces of DNA outside chromosomes. A trio of new studies with funding from Cancer Grand Challenges external link, opens in a new tab reveals the unfair advantage this extrachromosomal DNA, or ecDNA, grants tumors. Physician-scientist Howard Y. Chang, a Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigator, co-led two of the studies along with Paul Mischel external link, opens in a new tab , a fellow Stanford University colleague who served as a lead on all three papers external link, opens in a new tab published on November 6, 2024. “There are rules normal cells follow. One of the ways cancer wins is that it doesn’t play by the same rules,” Chang says. “What we are doing is figuring out what extra moves it has in its repertoire.” Normal human cells generally keep their DNA in chromosomes. But that’s hardly the only way ecDNA disregards norms. R

DNA belongs in chromosomes, but some tumors stow cancer-promoting genes outside chromosomes, as ecDNA. New research explores how ecDNA violates genetic norms to fuel many cancers, while also offering hope for turning the tables on these malignancies. Investigator, Stanford University Investigator, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center DNA belongs in chromosomes, but some tumors stow cancer-promoting genes outside chromosomes, as ecDNA. New research explores how ecDNA violates genetic norms to fuel many cancers, while also offering hope for turning the tables on these malignancies. As it faces off agai

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