Scientists from the South Korean KAIST Institute have developed a new technology that can transform colon cancer cells into normal cells without having to destroy them. It is an innovative approach that may radically change cancer treatment methods, avoiding the side effects associated with traditional treatments such as chemotherapy.
The new technology is based on the concept of a digital twin to simulate the genetic networks of normal cells. This digital twin allows analysis of the process by which cancer cells lose their normal properties, which enables the identification of molecular keys capable of restoring these properties.
The research team focused on analyzing the path of cell development during the cancerous process, and they found that the cells gradually lose their natural characteristics as a result of a change in the activity of their genetic networks. Using the digital twin, the researchers identified the basic genes responsible for reprogramming these cells to their normal state. Laboratory experiments and studies conducted on Animals have shown that applying these molecular switches to colon cancer cells leads to their conversion into normal, similar cells, without causing their destruction.
Professor Kwang Hyun Cho from the KAIST Institute said: “The new technology represents a qualitative leap in cancer treatment,” explaining that it reduces the risk of the disease returning by targeting the genetic roots of the cancer defect instead of killing cancer cells.
He added: “This new approach, known as reversal cancer therapy, opens the door to treatments that can be applied to different types of cancer while reducing damage to healthy cells.”
The researchers indicated that this technology paves the way for developing safer and less harmful treatments for cancer patients.
It is worth noting that colorectal cancer is considered one of the most common cancer tumors in the world, as it ranked third among the types of cancer with recorded incidence rates, according to the World Health Organization’s 2020 report.