Revolutionary new technology reverts cancer cells to normal cells

This development appears as an alternative cancer therapy that does not have the same side effects as conventional treatments.

A team of researchers, led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho of the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), has developed a revolutionary technology that can convert cancer cells in a state similar to that of normal cells.

This innovative approach represents a new method of cancer treatmentpotentially avoiding the side effects and risks of resistance associated with conventional therapies, says .

Unlike typical cancer cells, which are often “undifferentiated” and lack the specialized functions of normal cells, reverted cells recover their normal functionality.

This process is achieved through gene reactivation associated with differentiation that are normally mutated or silenced in cancer cells. In some cases, trans-differentiation may occur, transforming cancer cells into completely different cell types, such as the conversion of breast cancer cells into liver cells.

Although previous studies have demonstrated cancer reversal in certain cases, such as myeloid leukemia, breast cancer and hepatocellular carcinoma, identifying the “master regulators” of this process remains a challenge. These main regulators are specific genes or proteins that control cell differentiation. Their identification is crucial to systematically reprogram cancer cells to non-cancerous states.

In their latest study, the KAIST team applied their innovative technology to colon cancer cells and observed that during oncogenesis – the transformation of normal cells into cancerous cells – cells regress along their differentiation trajectory.

Taking advantage of this information, researchers created a “digital twin” of the genetic network associated with normal cellular differentiation. This simulation allowed them to identify the molecular switches that trigger the reversal of cancer cells.

By applying these key switches to colon cancer cells, the team was able to induce its reversal to a state similar to normal. The results were further validated through molecular and cellular experiments carried out in animal models. This systematic approach provides a robust framework for future research, avoiding reliance on serendipitous findings.

“This study proves that cancer cell reversal can be induced systematically,” said Professor Cho. “Our research introduces the new concept of reversible cancer therapy and lays the foundation for identifying targets for cancer reversal through systematic analysis of cell differentiation trajectories.”

The was published in the magazine Advanced Science.