Cancer cells divide more rapidly than normal cells, so most cancer treatments focus on killing these fast-dividing cells. However, this often leads to side effects since normal cells can also be affected.
A new study from KAIST introduces a revolutionary approach to treating colon cancer by converting cancer cells into a state similar to normal colon cells rather than destroying them. This innovative technique avoids the negative side effects typically linked to conventional treatments, raising interest in its potential.
The research team noticed that during oncogenesis– a process of cancer development, normal cells lose their specialized traits and regress in their differentiation process. Using this insight, they created a technology to develop a “digital twin” of the gene network that controls the typical differentiation trajectory of cells.
The team conducted a simulation analysis to identify master molecular switches that systematically induce normal cell differentiation. Applying these switches to colon cancer cells causes them to revert to a normal-like state. The team confirmed this result through molecular and cellular experiments and animal studies.
Instead of relying on serendipitous discoveries, the team meticulously analyzed and utilized the digital twin of the cancer cell gene network to demonstrate the systematic reversion of cancer cells. This systematic approach instills confidence in the potential of developing reversible cancer therapies that can be applied to various types of cancer.
Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho remarked, “The fact that cancer cells can be converted back to normal cells is astonishing. This study proves that such reversion can be systematically induced.”
He further emphasized, “This research introduces the novel concept of reversible cancer therapy by reverting cancer cells to normal cells. It also develops foundational technology for identifying targets for cancer reversion through the systematic analysis of normal cell differentiation trajectories.”
Journal Reference:
- Jeong-Ryeol Gong, Chun-Kyung Lee, Hoon-Min Kim, Juhee Kim, and Jaeog Jeon. Control of Cellular Differentiation Trajectories for Cancer Reversion. Advanced Science. DOI: 10.1002/advs.202402132
