New Delhi: Researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have reportedly developed a new technology that may change how cancer is treated. As reported by ‘Interesting Engineering’, this technology transforms colon cancer cells into cells that resemble normal cells, rather than destroying them. The research was published in -Advanced Science- and led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho of the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering.
The team created a computer model of the gene network responsible for normal cell development. Using this model, they identified key molecular switches that can revert colon cancer cells back to a normal-like state.
Unlike conventional therapies, which aim to destroy cancer cells, the KAIST team has taken a radically different approach. Their method targets the root cause of cancer development by addressing how cells regress along the differentiation pathway during their transformation into cancerous states.
Using a computational “digital twin” of the gene network involved in cell differentiation, the researchers simulated and analyzed complex gene interactions. This allowed them to identify key molecular switches capable of reverting cancer cells to a normal-like state. Their findings were confirmed through molecular experiments, cellular studies, and animal trials.
Traditional cancer treatments often cause serious side effects and cancer can return. This new approach aims to address these issues. “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.
The researchers believe this method could work for other cancers as well. By using the same computer modeling technology on different cancer gene networks, they hope to find similar molecular switches. Professor Cho explained the potential impact: “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.” This new technology could lead to new cancer therapies with fewer side effects and a lower chance of cancer recurrence.
