Korean researchers find cancer undo button, turn tumor cells to normal ones

In a trailblazing advancement in cancer therapy, researchers at Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a technology that transforms colon cancer cells into normal-like cells without destroying them.

This innovative approach, led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho of the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, represents a significant departure from traditional cancer treatments that rely on killing cancer cells, often leading to severe side effects and risks of recurrence.

"The fact that cancer cells can be converted back to normal cells is an astonishing phenomenon. This study proves that such reversion can be systematically induced," Cho remarked.

Rethinking cancer cell route

In the introduction to their paper, the researchers detail how research in acute myeloid leukemia, breast cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma has shown that encouraging tumor cells to differentiate or trans-differentiate can achieve this reversal.

However, identifying the key regulators responsible for driving these processes remains a challenge. If these regulators from normal cell differentiation can be pinpointed and applied to cancerous ones, they could offer a promising alternative to current cancer treatments.

Conventional cancer treatments focus on eradicating cancer cells. While effective in many cases, this method faces two critical challenges: the potential for cancer cells to develop resistance and return, and the collateral damage to healthy cells, resulting in debilitating side effects.

The KAIST team has taken a radically different approach by targeting the root causes of cancer development. Their research hinges on the idea that cancer cells, during their transformation from normal cells, regress along the differentiation trajectory—the process by which normal cells mature into specific functional types.

To tackle this, the researchers created a digital twin of the gene network involved in the differentiation trajectory of normal cells. This computational model allowed them to simulate and analyze the intricate gene interactions that regulate cell differentiation.

Through their simulations, the team pinpointed master molecular switches capable of steering cells from colon cancer back into a normal-like state. These findings were then validated through molecular experiments, cellular studies, and animal trials, demonstrating the effectiveness of this approach.

Toward reversible cancer therapy

The implications of this research are profound. By shifting the focus from destroying cancer cells to reverting them, this technology could lead to the formulation of a new class of cancer treatments.

Such therapies could potentially minimize side effects and reduce the likelihood of recurrence, addressing some of the most pressing challenges in oncology.

Cho elaborated, "This research introduces the novel concept of reversible cancer therapy by reverting cancer to normal cells. It also develops foundational technology for identifying targets for cancer reversion through the systematic analysis of normal cell differentiation trajectories."

While the study focused on colon cancer, the underlying principles could be extended to other cancer types. By applying the digital twin technology to various cancer gene networks, researchers hope to identify similar molecular switches in different contexts, paving the way for broadly applicable, reversible cancer therapies.

This innovative approach marks a paradigm shift in cancer treatment. By targeting the genetic mechanisms underlying cell transformation, researchers have provided a roadmap for safer and potentially more effective therapies. As the technology develops, it may redefine how we combat cancer, offering new hope to patients worldwide.

The study has been published in the journal Advanced Science.