How extra-chromosomal DNA (ecDNA) helps tumors grow and resist treatment
Official title: Quantitative modeling of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA) evolution in tumors
Funded at Massachusetts Institute of Technology · NIH-11457122 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project builds computer models and lab tools to track how ecDNA lets cancer cells change and survive, with the aim of helping people whose tumors are driven by ecDNA.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Massachusetts Institute of Technology NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Cambridge, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2024 |
| Project end | January 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $248,618 |
| NIH project number | 4R00CA286968-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11457122 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with cancers known or suspected to contain ecDNA—often aggressive tumors where ecDNA has been detected—would be most relevant to this research.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose cancers do not involve ecDNA or those looking for immediate treatment options may not benefit directly from this lab-focused project.
What this research studies
You would see researchers combining computer modeling with lab experiments to follow how ecDNA (extra-chromosomal DNA) changes inside tumor cells over time and under stress. They will analyze tumor samples and cell lines, use CRISPR-based screens to pinpoint genes on ecDNA that drive growth or drug resistance, and develop methods to map ecDNA diversity across many tumors. The team plans to link these lab and computational findings to real patient tumor profiles so future treatments can be targeted more effectively. This is primarily lab and data work and does not offer immediate treatment, but it could shape future clinical options.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to tests that predict tumor evolution and new targets to overcome drug resistance in cancers with ecDNA.
How similar studies have gone: Research on ecDNA is relatively new: lab studies have linked ecDNA to growth and resistance, but combining quantitative modeling with CRISPR screens is a novel and emerging approach.
Where this research is happening
-
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Cambridge, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Matthew Gregory — Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Study coordinator: Jones, Matthew Gregory
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.