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Breakthrough from Hokkaido University offers promising new direction for personalized cancer therapies by reverting tumor cells to a stem-like state.
In a groundbreaking development, researchers at Hokkaido University and the National Cancer Center Research Institute have engineered a novel hydrogel capable of reprogramming differentiated cancer cells back into cancer stem cells within just 24 hours. This innovation holds significant potential for advancing personalized cancer treatments and understanding tumor biology more deeply.
The hydrogel, known as a double-network (DN) gel, is composed of two interlinked polymer networks and contains a high water content, giving it a soft, tissue-like consistency. When cancer cells from six different human cancer types—including brain, uterine, lung, colon, bladder, and sarcoma—were cultured on this gel, they rapidly formed spherical clusters and began expressing markers characteristic of cancer stem cells, such as SOX2 and Oct3/4, also known as Yamanaka factors.
Further investigation revealed that specific molecular pathways are involved in this reprogramming process. The activation of calcium channel receptors and the protein osteopontin were found to be essential for inducing the stem-like state in cancer cells. Moreover, when brain cancer cells cultured on the DN gel were transplanted into mice brains, they efficiently formed tumors, confirming their stemness and tumorigenic potential .
This discovery not only provides a new method for studying cancer stem cells in a controlled environment but also opens avenues for developing targeted therapies. By understanding and manipulating the mechanisms that allow cancer cells to revert to a stem-like state, scientists hope to create treatments that can prevent tumor recurrence and resistance to conventional therapies.
The research team envisions that the DN gel could be instrumental in enhancing cancer diagnostics and tailoring personalized treatment strategies, ultimately improving patient outcomes. BioNews Central.
Conclusion:
The ability to reprogram cancer cells into stem-like cells using a hydrogel marks a monumental step in cancer research and therapy development. By replicating and studying the most resilient and elusive cells within a tumour—cancer stem cells—scientists gain powerful insights into how cancers grow, resist treatment, and recur. While further research is needed to fully translate this innovation into clinical settings, the potential for early diagnostics, targeted therapies, and even prevention of relapse is immense. This discovery brings renewed hope in the fight against cancer, paving the way for more effective, personalised treatment strategies in the near future.
Resources:
- Uprooting cancer: Hydrogel rapidly reverts cancer cells back to cancer stem cells | EurekAlert!
- Rapid reprogramming of tumour cells into cancer stem cells on double-network hydrogels – PubMed
- Uprooting cancer: Hydrogel rapidly reverts cancer cells back to cancer stem cells | Hokkaido University
- Reversing cancer? New gel converts tumour cells to stem cells in 24 hours
- Uprooting Cancer: Innovative Hydrogel Rapidly Reverts Cancer Cells Back to Cancer Stem Cells
- https://healthcare-in-europe.com/en/news/new-hydrogel-39-reprograms-39-cancer-cells-back-to-cancer-stem-cells.html?
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