Researchers have developed a new method using synthetic DNA molecules, called triplex-forming oligonucleotides (TFOs), to directly target cancer-linked genes by recognizing specific DNA sequences and binding to them.

The approach uses triplex-forming oligonucleotides designed to recognize and bind specific DNA sequences, enabling targeted gene regulation while sparing the rest of the genome.

A team from the University of Portsmouth reports this method, offering a potential path for future treatments, diagnostics, and research in cancer biology.

The method is in early stages and requires further development before clinical use, but it has earned 'breakthrough' status in Nucleic Acids Research, underscoring its significance.

The modified bases used are commercially available, which could make the technology more accessible to laboratories worldwide and accelerate research progress.

This chemistry makes the modified bases commercially available, addressing accessibility issues and enabling broader adoption by laboratories worldwide.

Lead author Dr. David Rusling of the University of Portsmouth emphasizes that the chemistry is being adapted to make the original concept viable inside cells, not abandoned.

Dr. David Rusling notes that the work preserves the original concept while adjusting the chemistry to overcome biological limitations and function inside cells.

The study was published in Nucleic Acids Research and comes from the University of Portsmouth’s Institute of Life Sciences and Healthcare.

The approach was tested on the MYC gene, a known driver of cancer growth, with modified molecules reducing MYC activity by 50% to 80% in lab experiments, outperforming unmodified DNA and earlier methods.

Beyond therapy, the method could serve as a research tool to temporarily switch off specific genes and study cellular responses, aiding understanding of cancer biology and genetic disorders.

The study represents a stepping stone toward future DNA-targeting therapies and diagnostics, with ongoing research needed before clinical application.