Scientists in South Korea have identified a molecular ‘switch’ that can reverse cancerous cells back to a healthier state, marking a major breakthrough in cancer research.
By targeting this critical moment before normal cells irreversibly transform into diseased cells, researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) were able to halt the progression of cancer at a fundamental level.
“This finding provides a new approach for cancer treatment by rewiring cancer cells rather than eliminating them,” Dr Tiffany Troso-Sandoval, a retired oncologist formerly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who was not involved in the study, told DailyMail.com.
Dr. Troso-Sandoval compared this hybrid state to water boiling at 212°F (100°C), explaining that “there’s a brief moment when water is neither fully liquid or fully steam,” similar to how cancer development includes a short window where cells are both healthy and cancerous.
Traditional cancer treatments focus on removing cancer cells through surgery or destroying them with radiation and chemotherapy.
However, the new research presents a third approach that could allow patients to regain healthy cells, potentially leading to therapies that are less toxic than conventional treatments.
“These traditional therapies damage all cells in the body — not just the cancerous ones,” Dr Troso-Sandoval noted, highlighting how such treatments can cause debilitating side effects and even increase the risk of secondary cancers.
She also pointed out that the findings could lead to preventive strategies for high-risk individuals, such as those with a family history of cancer or frequent exposure to carcinogens like cigarette smoke. “The study also provides ‘a deeper understanding of cancer biology that could lead to more personalized medicine,’” she added.
Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho, co-author of the study, explained the significance of their findings, “This study has revealed in detail, at the genetic network level, what changes occur within cells behind the process of cancer development, which has been considered a mystery until now.”
“This is the first study to reveal that an important clue that can revert the fate of [tumour development] is hidden at this very moment of change,” Cho added.
Cancer develops gradually as DNA mutations accumulate, altering cell function until they become fully cancerous. The researchers identified a short-lived “critical transition state” during this process, where cells exhibit both healthy and cancerous traits.
Using a molecular identification system, the team pinpointed an enzyme that was preventing the breakdown of cancer-related proteins, allowing tumour growth to continue unchecked. By blocking this enzyme in lab-grown colon cancer organoids, they were able to halt tumour growth and restore normal cell function.
The findings, published in the journal Advanced Science, introduce a novel mechanism for reprogramming cancer cells, rather than eliminating them, which could revolutionise treatment strategies.
While the concept of cell differentiation is well established, Dr Troso-Sandoval noted that the mechanism discovered by Cho and his team including its application in cancer treatment is entirely new.
ALSO READ TOP STORIES FROM NIGERIAN TRIBUNE
