Scientists have made an exciting discovery that could lead to better cancer screening.
They found a connection between certain chemicals called circular RNAs and the development of tumors known as oncogenes. When these circular RNAs stick to DNA strands in large numbers, they can cause breaks in the DNA, leading to mutations and the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells.
This groundbreaking finding, ER3D or endogenous RNA-directed DNA damage, opens up a new medical and molecular biology research field. It paves the way for using circular RNA molecules as early markers of disease, which can significantly increase the chances of successfully treating cancer.
The ability to detect tumors decades in advance could revolutionize cancer screening programs, leading to early interventions and improved outcomes.