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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Ian Sample Science editor

Study raises hopes of treating aggressive cancers by zapping rogue DNA

X-ray type image showing metastatic melanoma of the lungs
The presence of extrachromosomal DNA was more common in particular forms of breast, brain and lung cancer. Photograph: Cultura Creative Ltd/Alamy

Scientists have raised hopes of treating some of the most aggressive cases of cancer by targeting small fragments of rogue DNA that help tumours thrive and become resistant to chemotherapy.

The breakthrough emerged from a US-UK study that found many hard-to-treat cancers contained loops of malignant genetic material that were crucial for the tumours to survive and withstand treatment.

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