Core Insights - The research published by the National Medical Center of Hope City, USA, reveals the critical role of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) in cancer evolution, providing a foundation for future precision medicine and personalized treatment options for cancer patients [1][2] Group 1: Research Findings - The study identifies the significant role of ecDNA, which has been previously overlooked, in driving cancer development and evolution [1] - New mechanisms of interaction between different ecDNAs have been uncovered, indicating that their presence alongside certain oncogenes can lead to a hypoxic tumor microenvironment, which is linked to cancer progression and treatment resistance [1][2] Group 2: Methodology and Applications - The research combines spatial transcriptomics and genomic data to identify distinct cell populations that have acquired additional mutations from a common ancestor, aiding in the understanding of tumor evolution [2] - The study focuses on glioma samples and establishes a comprehensive analytical framework that can be referenced by other research teams, with the potential for broader application in personalized cancer treatment [2]

编辑丨王多鱼 排版丨水成文 染色体外 DNA （extrachromosomal DNA，ecDNA） 是一种独立于染色体存在的环状 DNA 分子，在 30%-50% 的恶性肿瘤患者中被检测到。尽管早在 1965 年研究人员就在神经母细胞瘤中观察到其存在 （当 时称为双微体） ，但受限于技术手段，其存在的生物学意义长期未被阐明。 近年来的研究发现，ecDNA 可携带完整的致癌基因 （例如 MYC、EGFR） 及其增强子序列。当这些基因从 染色体脱落并环化形成 ecDNA 后，原本的表观遗传修饰 （例如 DNA 甲基化和组蛋白修饰） 记忆丢失，导 致癌基因的异常激活。 临床证据表明，携带 ecDNA 的肿瘤患者往往表现出更高的恶性程度、更强的治疗抵抗和更差的临床预后。 因此，靶向 ecDNA 的抗肿瘤策略 （例如干扰其复制与维持、调控表观遗传重塑） 具有重要治疗潜力。然 而，ecDNA 的复制与维持机制、表观遗传重塑及其在肿瘤发生发展中的精确作用，仍是当前研究的核心挑 战。解决这些问题将为开发新型抗癌疗法提供关键突破口。 2025 年 4 月 28 日，中国科学院深圳先进技术研究院定量合成生物学全国重点实验室、 ...