Cancer cells may sabotage their own DNA in the very act of growing, according to new research that could expose a hidden weakness in tumors.
Scientists at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem found that cancer cells switch on super-enhancers — powerful stretches of DNA that crank growth genes to extreme levels. Running those genes so hard puts physical strain on the DNA, causing double-strand breaks. Repeated cycles of breaking and imperfect repair then seed new mutations in exactly these highly active regions. The work was published August 2, 2026 in Science Advances.
A double-edged strategy
“Cancer cells rely on super-enhancers to keep growth genes running at high speed,” said Professor Rami Aqeilan. The strain that follows helps tumors in the short term but, the authors note, “increases mutation risk fueling cancer’s evolution” — potentially making tumors more adaptable and harder to treat over time.
Why it could matter for treatment
The same dependence may be a vulnerability. “Because cancer cells depend on these high-stress DNA regions to keep growing, they may also be more vulnerable there,” said researcher Osama Hidmi. The team suggests future therapies could aim to disrupt super-enhancer activity or block the DNA repair that tumor cells rely on to survive the damage they inflict on themselves. The findings are mechanistic and early, but they point to a fresh angle on why cancers mutate and how they might be attacked.