Cancer treatment has advanced significantly, but many medications focus on destroying cancer cells, which can cause severe side effects and increase the chance of cancer recurrence. But what if cancer cells could be turned into normal cells without causing harm?
KAIST scientists, led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho, have created a new approach for treating colon cancer by reprogramming cancerous cells to resemble normal cells. This method has the potential to transform cancer treatment and give millions of people hope.
Most cancer treatments aim to destroy cancer cells, but this approach has its challenges. Treatments like chemotherapy and radiation harm healthy cells, causing severe side effects. Cancer cells can develop resistance, making them harder to eliminate over time. This has spurred the need for innovative therapies that address these limitations.
KAIST researchers have introduced a novel approach that transforms cancer cells into a state resembling normal cells. Unlike traditional therapies, this method doesn’t destroy cancer cells but reverts them to their original, harmless state. This breakthrough avoids the harmful side effects associated with conventional treatments and holds the potential for a safer, more effective cancer therapy.
The research team studied the process of oncogenesis, where normal cells lose their differentiation during cancer formation. They created a digital twin of the gene network linked to cell differentiation using advanced simulation tools. Through this, they identified molecular switches capable of pushing cancer cells back along their differentiation trajectory.
These switches effectively reverted them to a normal-like state when applied to colon cancer cells. This was proven by cellular investigations and animal studies, suggesting a substantial advance in cancer treatment research.
The development has cleared the way for reversible cancer medicines, which were previously thought to be impossible. The findings suggest that similar strategies could be used to treat different types of cancer, paving the way for more universal cancer treatments.
The study, titled “Control of Cellular Differentiation Trajectories for Cancer Reversion,” appeared in the prominent journal Advanced Science. It demonstrates the systematic potential of employing digital twins to modify cancer cells.
