ecDNA in Cancer: Targeting Tumor Genetics for Better Treatments
Official title: eDyNAmiC-TEXASSW
Funded at Ut Southwestern Medical Center · NIH-11539604 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer research project is exploring how cancer genes on circular DNA outside chromosomes (ecDNA) drive aggressive tumors and how we might target them to improve treatments for patients with ecDNA-containing cancers.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Ut Southwestern Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Dallas, United States) |
| Project start | June 24, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $770,699 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA278683-01S4 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539604 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors contain ecDNA or are suspected to have ecDNA-driven cancers.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose tumors do not rely on ecDNA-driven mechanisms may see limited or no benefit.
What this research studies
This project studies ecDNA, circular strands of DNA in cancer cells, and how they boost cancer genes and help tumors evolve resistance to therapies. A multidisciplinary team will combine biology, imaging, and analysis of patient tumor samples to understand ecDNA formation, movement, and how it changes gene expression. The aim is to identify new markers and potential targets to disrupt ecDNA-driven tumor growth and treatment resistance. Results could lead to more effective therapies for patients whose cancers harbor ecDNA.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new treatments that specifically target ecDNA-driven cancer growth, potentially improving survival for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work has shown ecDNA is present in many cancers and linked to aggressiveness, with growing evidence that targeting ecDNA pathways can affect tumor behavior.
Where this research is happening
-
Ut Southwestern Medical Center
Dallas, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Chen, Zhijian J — Ut Southwestern Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Chen, Zhijian J
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.