The research team was led by professor Cho Kwang-hyun from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering. (Image courtesy of KAIST)
DAEJEON, Dec. 23 (Korea Bizwire) – In a significant advance for cancer treatment, researchers at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) have developed a novel technique that transforms colon cancer cells into normal-like cells without destroying them, the institute announced on December 22.
The research team, led by professor Cho Kwang-hyun from the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering, has pioneered what is being called a “reversible cancer treatment technology” that could potentially eliminate side effects common in current cancer treatments.
Traditional cancer therapies universally aim to kill cancer cells, which can lead to two major problems: cancer cells may develop resistance and recur, or normal cells may be destroyed along with cancer cells, causing adverse effects.
The breakthrough came from the team’s observation that cells follow a reverse trajectory of normal cell differentiation when becoming cancerous. Using this insight, they developed a digital twin of the gene network involved in normal cell differentiation. Through simulation analysis, they systematically identified master molecular switches that guide normal cell differentiation.
The researchers demonstrated the effectiveness of their approach through both molecular cellular experiments and animal trials, showing that when these molecular switches were applied to colon cancer cells, the cancer cells reverted to a normalized state.
“The discovery that cancer cells can be transformed back into normal cells is remarkable, and we’ve now proven we can systematically induce this process,” said Cho.
The technology, which could potentially be applied to various types of cancer, has been transferred to Biorevert for further development into reversible cancer treatments.
The research, which involved KAIST researchers including Gong Jeong-ryeol and doctoral candidates Lee Chun-kyung, Kim Hoon-min, and Kim Juhee, was published in the online edition of the international journal “Advanced Science” on December 11.
Lina Jang ([email protected])
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