On December 20th, KAIST announced that a research team, led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho, has developed a groundbreaking technology to treat colon cancer. This innovative method converts cancer cells into a state similar to normal colon cells, without destroying them. As a result, it avoids the common side effects associated with chemotherapy, such as hair loss and fatigue.
Cancer
Cancer is a group of diseases that are identified by uncontrolled cell growth. When a person has cancer their cells divide and grow without stopping, unlike normal cells. This destroys body tissue and can spread to other parts of a person’s body. Cancer accounts for 13% of all deaths worldwide, the second leading cause of death.
KAIST Breakthrough
The research team led by Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho at the Department of Bio and Brain Engineering has made significant progress by developing a foundational technology. This innovation allows them to capture and analyze the critical transition that occurs when normal cells transform into cancer cells. Through their work, they aim to identify a molecular switch capable of reverting cancer cells to their normal state. This groundbreaking technology could save hundreds of thousands of lives each year. This critical transition happens at a very specific time. During this time the cell is unstable and is neither a cancer cell nor a normal cell. The study investigated the production and development of tumors, focusing on the critical transition state. Researchers utilized a systems biology approach to create a technology for identifying molecular switches that can reverse the cancerization process. They applied this technology to colon cancer cells and confirmed through molecular cell experiments that these cancer cells can regain the characteristics of normal cells. This technology automatically constructs a computer model of the genetic network involved in the critical transition of cancer development using single-cell RNA sequencing data. It systematically identifies molecular switches that could enable cancer reversion through simulation analysis. This technology is anticipated to be used in developing reversion therapies for other types of cancer in the future.
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https://www.newsweek.com/scientists-discover-reverse-cancer-2027113
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https://news.kaist.ac.kr/newsen/html/news/?mode=V&mng_no=42710
