New Study Finds Circular RNA Can Cause DNA Mutations and Increase Cancer Risk

Scientists Discover New Relationship Between Cancer Risk and Circular RNA

Scientists have discovered an important new relationship between a person’s cancer risk and the functions of circular RNA, a newly discovered family of genetic segments found inside our cells.

A New Study by Flinders University

A new study by Flinders University and published in the journal Cancer Cell has shown that a specific circular RNA inside many of us can attach itself to DNA in our cells and cause DNA mutations that lead to cancer.

Breaking Ground with ER3D

Flinders University professor Simon Kuhn, lead researcher on cRNAs at the Flinders Institute for Health and Medical Research Cancer Laboratory, says: “While environmental and genetic factors have long been thought to be a major contributor to cancer, this is a groundbreaking discovery that we call ER3D. (ER3D) endogenous RNA targeting DNA damage) is merging into an entirely new area of ​​clinical and molecular biology research. This is the first example of a genetic molecule found within many of us that has the ability to modify our DNA and control cancer from within. This opens the door to using these molecules as new therapeutic targets and very early disease markers, when the potential for cancer treatment is much greater.”

Comparing Blood Tests

The study compared newborn blood tests or Guthrie cards (piercing a cavity in one heel of a newborn and soaking the blood in a stack of printed cards called Guthrie cards) for children who developed leukemia in infancy and children without any blood disease.

Abundance of Circular RNA Molecules

The results show that the abundance of circular RNA molecules in the cells of certain individuals is a major factor in determining their development of these specific cancer-causing genes or oncogenes, among other things.

CircRNA Binding to DNA

Professor Kuhn says: “CircRNA can bind to DNA at many different locations in different cells. By binding to DNA at specific locations, this cRNA causes a series of changes culminating in DNA breakage, which the cell must repair in order to survive. This is recovery is not always perfect and can lead to small mutations like a misspelled word in a book, or worse, very large and destructive mutations.”

Chromosomal Translocation

Lead author Dr. Vanessa Kuhn says that several circular RNAs appear to work together to cause breaks in several sections of DNA. This process, called chromosomal translocation, is a major problem for the cell because it results in the fusion of genes that can actually turn a normal cell into a cancerous one. This was demonstrated in two different cell types and was found to lead to the rapid onset of aggressive leukemia (leukemia).”

ER3D is Not Specific to Leukemias

Dr. Vanessa noted: “It is not surprising that ER3D occurs not only in leukemia. We now have evidence that ER3D is not specific to leukemias, but to other cancers and human diseases.”

Continuing Research on cRNA

The Flinders University research team continues to investigate the role of cRNA in the development of cancer and other diseases.

Source: Medical Express

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