Scientists at the Mayo Clinic in Florida in the Department for Cancer Biology have successfully reprogrammed lung, breast, and bladder cancer cells back into normal, healthy cells by bringing back the function that prevents them from multiplying in excess.
While the tests have only been conducted on human cells in the lab (rather than human trial), their work has tremendous implications for the future of cancer treatment. Researchers are hopeful that the technique could one day be used to target tumours, so that the cancer will be “switched off” without the need for chemotherapy, surgery, or other drugs.
This important study solves a long-standing biological mystery, but we mustn’t get ahead of ourselves. There’s a long way to go before we know whether these findings, in cells grown in a laboratory, will help treat people with cancer. But it’s a significant step forward in understanding how certain cells in our body know when to grow, and when to stop. Understanding these key concepts is crucial to help continue the encouraging progress against cancer we’ve seen in recent years. – Henry Scowcroft, Cancer Research UK’s senior science information manager (source)
