Extrachromosomal Circular DNA: A New Target in Cancer

Pan Wu; Yuhang Liu; Ruijia Zhou; Lingyun Liu; Hongli Zeng; Fang Xiong; Shanshan Zhang; Zhaojian Gong; Wenling Zhang; Can Guo; Fuyan Wang; Ming Zhou; Xuyu Zu; Zhaoyang Zeng; Yong Li; Guiyuan Li; He Huang; Wei Xiong

doi:10.3389/fonc.2022.814504

Extrachromosomal Circular DNA: A New Target in Cancer

Front Oncol. 2022 Apr 14:12:814504. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2022.814504. eCollection 2022.

Authors

Pan Wu^{1

2

3}, Yuhang Liu^{1

2

3}, Ruijia Zhou^{1

2

3}, Lingyun Liu⁴, Hongli Zeng⁴, Fang Xiong⁵, Shanshan Zhang⁵, Zhaojian Gong⁶, Wenling Zhang^{2

3}, Can Guo², Fuyan Wang², Ming Zhou², Xuyu Zu⁴, Zhaoyang Zeng², Yong Li⁷, Guiyuan Li², He Huang^{1

2

3}, Wei Xiong^{1

2

3}

Affiliations

¹ NHC Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Hunan Key Laboratory of Translational Radiation Oncology, Hunan Cancer Hospital and The Affiliated Cancer Hospital of Xiangya School of Medicine, Central South University, Changsha, China.
² Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute, Central South University, Changsha, China.
³ Hunan Key Laboratory of Nonresolving Inflammation and Cancer, Disease Genome Research Center, The Third Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁴ Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, University of South China, Hengyang, China.
⁵ Department of Stomatology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁶ Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
⁷ Department of Medicine, Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States.

Abstract

Genomic instability and amplification are intrinsically important traits determining the development and heterogeneity of tumors. The role of extrachromosomal circular DNA (eccDNA) in tumors has recently been highlighted. EccDNAs are unique genetic materials located off the chromosomal DNA. They have been detected in a variety of tumors. This review analyzes the mechanisms involved in the formation of eccDNAs and their genetic characteristics. In addition, the high-copy number and transcriptional levels of oncogenes located in eccDNA molecules contribute to the acceleration of tumor evolution and drug resistance and drive the development of genetic heterogeneity. Understanding the specific genomic forms of eccDNAs and characterizing their potential functions will provide new strategies for tumor therapy. Further research may yield new targets and molecular markers for the early diagnosis and treatment of human cancer.

Keywords: cancer; double-minute; eccDNA; heterogeneity; tumor biomarker.

Publication types

Review