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."