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12/08/2024
Scientists Created a Material That Reverts Cancer Cells to Stem Cells in Just One Day
Japanese researchers have developed an innovative hydrogel, known as a double network (DN) gel, which can rapidly reprogram cancer cells into cancer stem cells within 24 hours.
The study demonstrated that the DN gel successfully reverted differentiated cells in six different cancer types, including brain, uterine, lung, colon, bladder, and sarcoma cancers. This breakthrough could help researchers better understand cancer stem cells and develop more effective therapies targeting these elusive and treatment-resistant cells.
Cancer stem cells play a critical role in cancer recurrence and resistance to chemotherapy and radiotherapy. These cells act as hidden “roots,” either remaining dormant or circulating throughout the body, making them difficult to identify and target with conventional treatments. The DN gel mimics biological tissues, and when cancer cells are placed on it, they form spherical structures and produce molecular markers associated with cancer stem cells. This reprogramming process provides researchers with new tools for studying these cells and creating targeted therapies.
One notable finding involved brain cancer cells on the DN gel, which expressed specific receptors linked to cancer stem cells. By applying molecular inhibitors targeting these receptors, researchers successfully eradicated the reprogrammed cancer stem cells. In the future, the DN gel could revolutionize cancer treatment by enhancing cancer type diagnosis, supporting the development of personalized medicines, and providing new strategies to eliminate cancer stem cells more effectively.
Learn more: https://www.global.hokudai.ac.jp/blog/uprooting-cancer-hydrogel-rapidly-reverts-cancer-cells-back-to-cancer-stem-cells/
