Could cancer one day be treated by restoring sick cells instead of destroying them? A Korean innovation is shaking up this classical approach.
Current treatments target cancer cells to eliminate them. However, this strategy has two major drawbacks: the frequent recurrence of the disease and sometimes severe side effects, as healthy cells are also affected.
Researchers at KAIST (Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology) have opted for a radically different path. Their technology restores the normal state of colon cancer cells without destroying them. This process is based on a discovery: cancer cells follow a trajectory that moves them away from their original function.
To better understand and intervene in this trajectory, the team created a "digital twin" of the genetic network of healthy colon cells. This digital model simulates the molecular interactions at play, providing a detailed view of the transformations undergone by cancer cells.
Thanks to this technology, the scientists identified essential "molecular switches." Once activated, these elements allow cancer cells to recover their original state. This breakthrough has been validated through laboratory experiments and animal testing.
Unlike traditional treatments, which often rely on serendipitous discoveries, this method is systematic and could be applied to other types of cancer. The potential is enormous: less invasive therapies with a significant reduction in relapses and side effects.
Thus, Professor Kwang-Hyun Cho, who led the study, emphasizes that this technology is not limited to the colon. Digital modeling could be extended to other tissues, paving the way for tailored treatments for various types of cancer.
This research, supported by Korea's Ministry of Science and ICT and published in
Advanced Science, represents a major breakthrough. As reversible therapies enter the realm of possibility, this study redefines the foundations of modern oncology.