Scientists have discovered a “switch” that can reverse cancer cells, marking a significant breakthrough in the search for a cure to the disease. A team of researchers in South Korea managed to revert cancerous cells back to a healthier stage by activating this molecular level.
In an unprecedented discovery, they pinpointed a critical moment in the early stages of cancer development – before normal cells irreversibly transform into diseased cells – a finding that could offer a new treatment approach, potentially revolutionising the way we combat the disease. Traditional cancer treatments focus on removing or destroying cancer cells through surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy.
However, this new research suggests a third option: assisting patients in regaining their healthy cells, possibly offering therapies that are less toxic and more effective, Dr. Troso-Sandoval told MailOnline. The retired oncologist, formerly at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who was not involved in the study, said: “This finding provides a new approach for cancer treatment by rewiring cancer cells rather than eliminating them.”
To help understand this hybrid state, you can think of water boiling at exactly 212°F, (100C), Dr Troso-Sandoval explained.
“There’s a brief moment when water is neither fully liquid or fully steam,” – similar to how cells are both healthy and cancerous during a short window of cancer development, reports the Mirror.
Traditional cancer treatments often come with severe side effects as they don’t solely target cancer cells – they damage all cells in the body, potentially leading to further diseases, including new cancers. In contrast, the latest findings suggest a method to intervene earlier in the cancer process, possibly preventing tumour formation in high-risk patients, such as those with a family history of cancer or those regularly exposed to carcinogens like cigarette smoke.
The study also offers “a deeper understanding of cancer biology that could lead to more personalised medicine”, she said. Co-author of the new research, Kwang-Hyun Cho, a professor of biology at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, stated: “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,’ he added. Cancer doesn’t develop overnight; it’s a gradual process where DNA damage accumulates over time, altering the way cells function. Eventually, these changes lead to the transformation of healthy cells into cancerous ones.”
Researchers have discovered a crucial window during the transition of cells from healthy to cancerous, where they exhibit traits of both states. Identifying this critical transition state allowed the team to target the molecular pathways involved and revert the cells back to a healthier state.
The research was led by Cho and his team who tested this new approach using organoid miniature lab-grown tumours made from colon cancer cells. They identified an enzyme that was preventing the breakdown of cancer-related proteins, thus fuelling tumour growth.
By inhibiting this enzyme, the organoids ceased growing and returned to a normal, healthy state. These findings were published in Advanced Science.
While cell differentiation – the process by which cells change states – is not a new concept, the specific mechanism discovered by Cho’s team and its potential application in cancer treatment marks a significant advancement, according to Dr. Troso-Sandoval. This research could potentially lead to therapies that target cancer at an earlier, more manageable stage, offering a promising alternative to traditional, more harmful treatments.
Don’t miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond – Sign up to our daily newsletter here.