Study Reveals Hidden Internal Cause of Cancer

Select Language:

Credit: Unsplash+

Cancer is a complicated disease that starts when cells in the body begin to grow uncontrollably. For many years, researchers have been trying to understand exactly how normal cells turn into cancer cells.

It’s well established that damage to DNA plays a crucial role. DNA holds the instructions for how cells work, grow, and divide. When these instructions are harmed, cells can start acting in harmful ways.

A recent study led by Flinders University in Australia has revealed an important and unexpected piece of this puzzle. Scientists discovered that a special kind of genetic material, called circular RNA, might directly harm DNA and raise the risk of cancer.

To grasp why this matters, it’s helpful to know a little about RNA. Most people are familiar with DNA, but RNA is another molecule inside our cells. It typically helps carry instructions from DNA so the body can produce proteins. Until recently, scientists thought RNA mainly played a supportive role.

However, circular RNA is different. Unlike typical RNA, which has a linear structure, circular RNA forms a closed loop. This shape makes it behave distinctly and stay stable inside cells for longer periods. Only in recent years have scientists started to understand its functions.

The new research found that circular RNAs can interact directly with DNA in damaging ways. They can bind to DNA strands and cause breaks or other damage. This process has been named endogenous RNA-directed DNA damage, or ER3D. It means the damage originates from within the body itself, not from external factors like radiation or chemicals.

Lead researcher Professor Simon Conn explained that this is the first time scientists have identified a type of genetic molecule capable of directly inducing mutations in human DNA and potentially triggering cancer. This discovery changes how experts think about the origins of cancer.

The team examined blood samples from newborns—specifically, Guthrie cards, which are typically collected shortly after birth for health screenings. They compared samples from children who later developed a type of blood cancer called acute leukemia with samples from those who stayed healthy.

Results showed that babies who later developed leukemia had notably higher levels of a particular circular RNA at birth. This indicates that the presence of certain circular RNAs might elevate cancer risk long before any symptoms appear.

Further, the scientists studied how these circular RNAs cause damage. They found that these molecules can attach to DNA across various cell types and induce breaks in the DNA strands. While cells attempt to repair this damage, the repairs aren’t always perfect. Small errors can accumulate over time.

Sometimes, the damage can be more severe. Circular RNAs may cause dramatic changes in DNA structure, such as pieces of DNA from different parts of the genome being incorrectly joined—a process known as chromosomal translocation. These alterations can lead to the formation of abnormal gene combinations that promote cancer.

Chowdhury Dr. Vanessa Conn, the study’s lead author, highlighted that multiple circular RNAs can work together to cause breaks at several points in the genome. This increases the likelihood of significant genetic errors, which may activate cancer-promoting genes called oncogenes.

The research found that these dangerous genetic alterations often occur in hotspots—regions of DNA already linked to leukemia. These areas are associated with more aggressive variants of the disease and poorer patient outcomes.

One key implication of this discovery is understanding how such harmful mutations originate. While previously known, the precise triggers were unclear. Circular RNAs might be a critical factor in starting these mutations.

Although this research focused on leukemia, scientists suspect that the same process could contribute to other types of cancer as well. Circular RNAs may have a broader role in disease development than once thought.

This breakthrough opens new avenues in medicine. Detecting harmful circular RNAs early could help identify individuals at greater cancer risk before symptoms appear. In the future, treatments may be developed to block or regulate these RNAs to prevent DNA damage.

This study also emphasizes how intricate cancer biology is. It demonstrates that both genetic factors and internal biological processes interact to influence disease development. A deeper understanding will help scientists devise better prevention and treatment strategies.

The findings were published in the journal Cancer Cell. This research marks a new direction for future investigations and offers hope that cancer might be stopped even before it begins.

If you’re interested in cancer prevention, explore studies on anti-cancer superfoods, including a berry that can help prevent cancer, diabetes, and obesity.

For more health insights, check out recent research about harnessing the power of nutritious foods and supplements, along with delicious cancer-fighting recipes.