Korean Researchers Have Developed a 'Groundbreaking Technology' to Turn Cancer Cells Back into Normal Cells

Scientists may have found a way to manipulate and reprogram cancer cells back into non-cancerous cells in groundbreaking new research at the Korean Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST).

Groundbreaking cancer research

Groundbreaking Technology that Reverts Cancer Cells into Non-Malignant State

IFL Science reported on the findings by the Korean research team and their groundbreaking technology to force cancer cells back into non-cancerous cells.

This type of cell manipulation is called "cancer reversion," which is when cancer cells regress back to their differentiated and non-malignant state.

The research team was led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho from the Dept. of Bio and Brain Engineering at KAIST, which focused on observing cancer cells during the oncogenesis process. This is when cells become cancerous. The team then developed a technology that "builds a digital twin of the gene network associated with the cell's normal differentiation trajectory." 

The Korean research team was able to "systematically identify master molecular switches that induce normal differentiation."

They then modified the switches on existing colon cancer cells in animals, and the team observed them revert to a "normal-like state."

Kwang-Hyun Cho said in a statement:

"The fact that cancer cells can be converted back to normal cells is an astonishing phenomenon. This study proves that such reversion can be systematically induced."

He also said:

"This research introduces the novel concept of reversible cancer therapy by reverting cancer cells to normal cells. It also develops foundational technology for identifying targets for cancer reversion through the systematic analysis of normal cell differentiation trajectories."

Past studies have shown problems such as limited scalability and other issues. The Korean research team developed a computational framework in this study to overcome limitations for single-cell Boolean network interference and control (BENEIN).

Sources:

Advanced Science. "Control of Cellular Differentiation Trajectories for Cancer Reversion."

IFL Science. "Researchers Develop Groundbreaking Technology to Revert Cancer Cells Into Normal Cells."

H&R Block Online Software Dependent Glitch for Alabama Income Tax Filers

H&R Block Tax Software glitch for AL tax return filers

Alabama Income Tax Filers: If you use H&R Block online software to file your taxes, be aware - there is a glitch in the software when it carries your federal information over to the state tab. Your state tax return will not be accurate if this glitch is present.

I Found a 'Dependent Glitch' in the H&R Block Online Tax Software

I noticed that the information for my dependent was missing after I printed my Alabama tax return. For some reason it did not import the dependent data from the Federal tab to the state tab. I tried everything possible to add this data, but there was no ability to add a dependent on the state tab (see screenshot below).

Screenshot of AL dependent page of online tax software

After I Discovered the Glitch, I Called H&R Block Customer Support

I called H&R Block customer support. The lady on the phone couldn't figure it out either. She then had me go to the live chat support from the website. He couldn't figure it out, either. Then this guy transferred me over to technical support. He spent at least an hour researching why my dependent information did not carry over to the state return. He came up with a guess why the glitch happened, but it his guess not correct. He thought it didn't carry over because of Alabama's Tax law, but that was not the case.

In the time it took for him to research the problem, I manually did my Alabama tax return using the AL40 with calculations, available on the state website.

Resolution to H&R Block Online Tax Software 'Dependent Glitch'

What I ended up doing was getting a refund of ($36.99) for my AL state portion of the H&R Block online software, and I manually did my AL state return. The technical support guy said what you seem to hear a lot when there is a problem: "I've never seen that glitch happen before. So I am going to give you a refund on your state return."

It did happen, and is a good reason why you should always review your tax information before sending it in, even if you feel confident in the tax software. Tax software can have glitches in it.

I am glad that H&R Block was willing to give me a refund, after all, I am not going to pay for them to give me the wrong data on my individual income tax return.

This was a valuable lesson for me in using tax software, and how I am going to be extra careful in examining my returns in the future when filing my taxes.