Cancer may be breaking its own DNA to keep growing
Cancer cells rely on powerful genetic switches to keep growth genes running at full speed, but that intense activity can damage their own DNA. The resulting breaks are repeatedly repaired, sometimes with small mistakes that allow new mutations to accumulate. Researchers believe this self-inflicted damage may help tumors evolve while also creating a potential target for new treatments.
New research suggests that cancer cells may be inflicting damage to their own DNA as they rapidly activate growth-promoting genes. Powerful DNA control regions called super-enhancers drive unusually intense activity in these critical genes. This relentless activity places significant strain on the DNA, potentially causing breaks in its structure.
Cancer cells often repair this damage and continue growing, but repeated cycles of breaking and repairing can introduce errors, allowing mutations to accumulate. The same processes that enable tumors to grow rapidly may also make their DNA increasingly unstable, potentially enabling cancers to adapt and become more aggressive.
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- Cancer may be breaking its own DNA to keep growing sciencedaily.com
