Researchers reveal how ecDNA increases oncogene activity in tumors

Researchers from the National Institute for Nuclear Physics (INFN) and the University of Naples Federico II have published a study in Nature Communications detailing how extrachromosomal circular DNA (ecDNA) drives tumor activity.

Using polymer physics models to study human colorectal cancer cell lines, the team explored how these circular DNA molecules, which exist outside normal chromosomes, can carry oncogenes and regulatory elements. This organization increases gene expression, specifically affecting the MYC gene, which promotes tumor growth and therapy resistance.

The study highlights the role of the protein BRD4 in mediating interactions between DNA and other molecules. BRD4 can facilitate the formation of biomolecular condensates—dynamic structures that concentrate molecules to organize reactions—which may play a significant role in tumor evolution.