In what has been called a major breakthrough in the fight against cancer, a team of South Korean researchers has discovered hybrid cells that exhibit both healthy and cancer-causing traits. The discovery could lead to therapies that can reverse the process of tumor formation, rather than simply eliminate diseased cells.
“Hybrid” Cells, a Critical Moment in Cancer Development
According to the study, published in the journal advanced science (I link it here), the development of cancer is not an immediate transformation, but a gradual process in which healthy cells accumulate DNA changes over time that modify their functioning. During this transition, cells go through a brief “critical transition state” in which healthy and cancerous characteristics coexist.
“This study has revealed in detail, at the level of the genetic network, what changes occur in cells during the process of cancer development, which until now had been considered a mystery,” he said. Kwang Hyun Cho, professor of biology at the Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology and co-author of the research.
Towards less toxic and more targeted therapies
Traditionally, cancer treatments focus on removing cancer cells through surgery or destroying them with radiation or chemotherapy. But these approaches, as you know, also damage healthy cells, causing debilitating side effects and increasing the risk of developing new diseases.
The discovery of hybrid cells opens the way to less toxic therapies, which could allow patients to recover their own healthy cells. “This discovery provides a new approach to treating cancer, reprogramming tumor cells instead of eliminating them,” commented Dr. Tiffany Troso Sandoval, a former oncologist at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center who was not involved in the study.
Hybrid cells, laboratory tests
The research team tested this new treatment mechanism through experiments on mini-tumors (organoids) grown in the lab from colon cancer cells. They identified an enzyme that blocked the degradation of certain cancer-related proteins, allowing them to fuel tumor growth.
By blocking this enzyme, the organoids stopped growing and returned to a healthy state of normal functioning.
Towards a deeper understanding of cancer biology
In addition to potential therapeutic applications, the study provides a deeper understanding of cancer biology, which could lead to a more personalized approach to medicine.
“This study has revealed an important clue that can reverse the fate of tumor development, hidden precisely at this moment of change.”
Kwang Hyun Cho
More research will be needed to translate these findings into clinical applications, but the discovery of hybrid cells represents an exciting step toward a deeper understanding and more effective treatment of cancer. By seizing this critical transition, scientists may be able to stop cancer progression in its tracks, offering new hope to millions of patients around the world.
