Science

DNA segments that are naturally excised during immune-cell development can replicate, drive damage at various genomic sites and lead to cancer recurrence

August 05, 2025 | 08:00pm

High levels of circular DNA made as immune cells develop increases the risk of leukaemia relapse

Understanding the genetic changes that underpin cancer growth is a key step towards identifying suitable treatments. Writing in Nature, Gao et al.1 shed light on a type of non-chromosomal DNA that influences the likelihood of relapse of a type of leukaemia.

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doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-025-02421-0

This story originally appeared on: Nature - Author:Karla K. Rodgers

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