Scientists have found a new way to treat cancer: it does not destroy cancer cells, but turns them into normal ones

A kind of "cancel button" for cancer is a new revolutionary word in the treatment of the disease. Traditional methods based on the destruction of affected cells often lead to serious side effects, writes Interesting Engineering.

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Researchers from the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a technology that transforms colon cancer cells into normal cells without destroying them.

This innovative research, led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho, represents a significant departure from traditional cancer treatments, which rely on killing cancer cells, often resulting in serious side effects and the risk of recurrence.

"The fact that cancer cells can be turned back into normal cells is amazing," Cho said.

Rethinking the Cancer Pathway

The researchers detail how studies of acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma have shown that encouraging tumor cells to differentiate or transdifferentiate can lead to this reversal.

Differentiation of tumor cells refers to the process by which cells that are in an undifferentiated (or malignant) state begin to transform into cells of a higher level of specialization, resembling healthy, normal cells. Under normal conditions, cells undergo a differentiation stage, acquiring specific functions and roles in the body. In the case of tumor cells, differentiation can be disrupted, leading to uncontrolled cell growth and division.

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The goal of differentiation stimulation is to bring tumor cells to a normal state where they begin to function like normal healthy cells. This can slow or even stop tumor growth and improve the patient’s prognosis.

Transdifferentiation — is a process by which cells of one type can be “reprogrammed” into cells of another type. This phenomenon is more complex and rare for cells of normal tissues, but in theory, in the field of cancer, it is possible to use stimulation of transdifferentiation to convert tumor cells into less aggressive cell types. For example, tumor cells that change into a cell type that is more susceptible to an immune response may become less capable of metastasizing and other types of damage.

Stimulating differentiation or transdifferentiation of tumor cells represents a promising therapeutic approach that may reduce tumor aggressiveness, make tumor cells more susceptible to treatment, and slow or stop tumor growth without damaging healthy cells.

However, identifying the key regulators responsible for controlling these processes remains a challenge. If these regulators of normal cell differentiation can be precisely identified and applied to cancer cells, they could become a promising alternative to current cancer treatments.

Conventional cancer treatments aim to kill cancer cells. While effective in many cases, this approach faces two critical problems. The first is the potential for cancer cells to develop resistance. The second is collateral damage to healthy cells, leading to debilitating side effects.

The KAIST team took a radically different approach, focusing on the underlying causes of cancer. Their research is based on the idea that cancer cells, during their transformation from normal cells, regress along a differentiation trajectory – the process by which normal cells mature into specific functional types.

To address this issue, the researchers created a digital twin of the gene network involved in the differentiation trajectory of normal cells. This computational model allowed them to analyze the complex interactions of genes that regulate cell differentiation.

Using modeling, the team identified key molecular switches that could direct colon cancer cells back to a normal state. These findings were then confirmed through molecular experiments, cell studies, and animal testing.

Make cancer cells normal

The findings are significant. By shifting the focus from killing cancer cells to regenerating them back to normal, the technology could lead to a new class of cancer treatments.

Such treatments have the potential to minimise side effects and reduce the chance of recurrence, addressing some of the most pressing problems in cancer.

Cho explained, "This research introduces a new concept for reversible cancer therapy by reverting cancer cells back to normal. He is working to develop a key technology that will help identify targets for reversing cancer by analyzing how normal cells should develop."

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Although the study focused on colon cancer, its basic principles could be extended to other cancer types. The researchers hope to find similar molecular “switches” for them.

This innovative approach represents a revolution in cancer treatment. By targeting the genetic mechanisms underlying cell transformation, the researchers have provided a roadmap for safer and potentially more effective treatments. It offers new hope to patients around the world.

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