eDyNAmiC: Understanding extrachromosomal DNA in cancer and how it drives aggressiveness
Official title: eDyNAmiC - FREDHUTCH
Funded at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center · NIH-11539606 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A cancer research project at Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center is studying abnormal circular DNA pieces (ecDNA) that help cancers grow and resist treatment, with the aim of finding ways to help patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Seattle, United States) |
| Project start | June 24, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $263,616 |
| NIH project number | 3OT2CA278693-01S4 |
| Project ID | NIH-11539606 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Patients whose tumors harbor ecDNA or who have cancers known to frequently contain ecDNA may benefit from advances that come from this research.
✕Less likely to help
Some patients with cancers not driven by ecDNA may not directly benefit from targeted therapies developed from these findings.
What this research studies
This program explores how ecDNA forms and functions in cancer cells and how these circular DNA pieces influence gene regulation and tumor aggression. A multidisciplinary team will study ecDNA biology, its movement during cell division, and how it contributes to resistance to therapies. The goal is to identify potential targets for new treatments that could slow or halt the progression of ecDNA-positive cancers. The research will combine laboratory studies with analyses of patient tumors to understand how widespread ecDNA is across cancer types and how it relates to patient outcomes.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new strategies to prevent cancer from evolving resistance and to improve survival for patients with ecDNA-positive tumors.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has established ecDNA as a driver of cancer aggression, and this project builds on that foundation with broader, international collaboration.
Where this research is happening
-
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
Seattle, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Malik, Harmit S. — Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center
- Study coordinator: Malik, Harmit S.
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.