This paper offers a comprehensive overview of extrachromosomal DNA (ecDNA), highlighting its significant role in cancer. It traces the historical understanding of ecDNA, from its initial discovery as "double minutes" to modern insights gained through advanced sequencing technologies. The text emphasizes ecDNA's association with poor patient outcomes and its contribution to tumor heterogeneity and drug resistance. Furthermore, it discusses various computational and experimental tools for studying ecDNA and explores its unique biological features, including its high transcriptional activity and impact on replication stress. Finally, the text touches upon the prognostic and therapeutic implications of ecDNA in clinical settings, suggesting new avenues for cancer treatment.
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