ecDNA in Cancer: Understanding and targeting circular DNA that drives tumor growth
Official title: eDyNAmiC (extrachromosomal DNA in Cancer) - Understanding the biology of ecDNA generation and action, and developing new ways to target these mechanisms in cancer
Funded at Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research · NIH-11539609 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer-focused project to understand how extrachromosomal DNA helps tumors grow and resist treatment, and to develop new ways to target these mechanisms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | June 1, 2024 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $292,861 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA301085-01S2 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539609 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors harbor ecDNA or who have cancers known to frequently carry ecDNA.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without ecDNA-driven cancers may not benefit from this specific targeting approach.
What this research studies
This project studies ecDNA, circular DNA pieces that carry cancer-promoting genes and can spread quickly within tumors. Researchers will map how ecDNA forms, moves, and regulates oncogenes, and test strategies to disrupt these processes. By combining insights from cancer biology and innovative targeting approaches, the work aims to make ecDNA-driven cancers more treatable. The effort brings together international experts and uses advanced genomic and molecular methods to understand why ecDNA-containing cancers are so aggressive.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, patients with ecDNA-positive cancers could have new treatment options that slow tumor growth and overcome resistance to therapy.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have shown ecDNA contributes to cancer aggressiveness, supporting a potential for meaningful advances with targeted strategies.
Where this research is happening
-
Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Ventura, Andrea — Sloan-Kettering Inst Can Research
- Study coordinator: Ventura, Andrea
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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.