South Korean scientists have discovered a "molecular switch" that can restore cancer cells to a healthy state, opening up a new avenue for cancer treatment. The relevant paper was published in the latest issue of the journal Advanced Science. Cancer does not form overnight. Over time, the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) of healthy cells will gradually undergo changes, leading to abnormal functions. When these harmful changes accumulate to a certain extent, healthy cells will transform into cancer cells. The research team has revealed a critical stage in the process of cancer cell transformation. At this stage, cells possess both healthy and cancerous characteristics. They believe that if intervention can be carried out during this transitional period, it can effectively prevent cellular carcinogenesis. In view of this, they utilized a molecular identification system to target the mechanism controlling this transition and discovered a molecular pathway that allows cells to return to a normal state. The team tested this new therapeutic mechanism on small tumors (organoids) cultured from cancer cells in the laboratory. The results showed that by activating a molecular 'switch', cancer cells can be restored to a healthy state. This study reveals in detail the changes that occur within cells during cancer progression at the level of gene networks, which have previously been a mystery. Traditional cancer therapy mainly involves surgical removal of cancer cells or the use of chemotherapy and other methods to destroy cancer cells in order to treat cancer. This new study seems to have found a 'third way', which is to 'reverse' cancer cells into healthy cells. (New Society)