A team at KAIST has figured out how to turn colon cancer cells back into healthy ones — without killing them.
Instead of using harsh treatments like chemo or radiation that destroy both cancer and healthy cells, they targeted key “master regulator” genes that control how cells behave. Think of it like flipping a switch inside the cancer cells to remind them how to act normal again.
The genes they focused on were MYB, HDAC2, and FOXA2. These are kind of like bosses in the cell’s command center. By suppressing them, the researchers basically reprogrammed the cancer cells, turning them back into something close to normal colon cells. This is totally different from traditional therapies that try to destroy tumors. Here, the cancer isn’t killed — it’s reversed.
They tested this with digital simulations, lab experiments, and even in live mice, and the results were promising. Even cooler? They tried the same idea on mouse brain cells and found potential for treating brain cancer too.
This new approach could lead to cancer treatments that are way more precise and way less damaging. Instead of blasting the body with chemicals, it could be more like resetting the cell’s internal wiring. If it works in humans, it might totally shift how we think about cancer therapy.