All currently used cancer treatment methods aim to destroy cancer cells. However, they have inherent limitations, including the possibility of cancer cells acquiring resistance and recurring or killing normal cells, leading to significant side effects.
Professor Cho Kwang-hyun and his research team at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) announced on the 22nd that they have developed a therapeutic technology that transforms colorectal cancer cells without killing them, returning them to a state similar to normal colon cells. The findings of this study were published online in the international journal Advanced Science on the 11th.
The research team focused on observations that normal cells undergo a reverse trajectory of normal cellular differentiation during the process of transforming into cancer cells. Based on this, they developed a technology to create a digital twin of the genetic network of normal cell differentiation trajectories. A digital twin refers to technology that collects real-time data from reality and replicates it identically in a virtual screen.
They systematically explored and identified master molecular switches that induce normal cell differentiation through simulation analysis. When applied to colorectal cancer cells, it was demonstrated through molecular cell experiments and animal trials that the condition of colorectal cancer cells was normalized.
This research achievement demonstrates that reversible transformation of cancer cells into normal cells is based not on serendipitous discoveries but rather on the creation and analysis of a digital twin of cancer cell genetic networks, which can be implemented. The research team noted that the significant implication of this study is the potential application of this technology to develop reversible cancer therapies for various types of cancer.
Professor Cho Kwang-hyun stated, “It is an amazing phenomenon that cancer cells can be converted into normal cells. This achievement has proven that we can systematically induce this transformation” and emphasized, “Based on the accomplishments that introduced the concept of reversible therapy to convert cancer cells into normal cells for the first time, we have developed a fundamental technology to systematically analyze the differentiation trajectories of normal cells and identify targets for reversible cancer therapy.”
Reference material
Advanced Science (2024), DOI: https://doi.org/10.1002/advs.202402132