Researchers have understood since the early 20th century that cancer cells exhibit a high degree of plasticity, allowing them to adapt and change based on their surrounding environment.
Cancer reversion, the process by which cancer cells lose their malignant properties and become more like normal cells, can be influenced by external factors beyond genetic manipulation. The microenvironment surrounding the cancer cells—made up of tissues, cells, and signaling molecules—plays a critical role in this process. These external signals can encourage cancer cells to change their behavior, potentially becoming less malignant or even returning to a non-cancerous state.
A key question often comes up: Why focus on changing cancer cells back to a healthier state instead of just trying to kill them? Tumors are clever and have many ways to resist treatments. Their genetic instability helps them evolve, allowing the strongest and most aggressive cells to survive and spread in the body.
Research shows that we can revert cancer cells to a less harmful state by fixing their environment and normalizing the signals that control their behavior, even if their genetic makeup remains unstable. This means that the surrounding environment can have a bigger impact than the cancer’s genetic traits.
How can we support the microenvironment?
The microenvironment is the cellular “neighborhood” around cancer cells, consisting of surrounding tissues, the extracellular matrix, immune cells, and chemical signals.
- Normalizing the extracellular matrix (ECM): The ECM provides structural support and sends signals to cells about how to behave. In cancer, the ECM often becomes disorganized, contributing to uncontrolled growth. Research has shown that when the ECM is normalized, it can send stabilizing signals to cancer cells, reducing their malignancy and potentially causing them to behave more like normal cells. For instance, in breast cancer research, placing malignant cells in an environment with a normalized ECM helped reduce their aggressive properties, leading to a more controlled growth pattern. (PMID: 14566816)
- Altering the metabolic landscape: Modifying the nutrient availability in the tumor microenvironment can impact cancer cell metabolism. For instance, reducing fatty acids or certain amino acids may hinder the energy supply for cancer cells while promoting healthier cell functions. Supporting metabolic reprogramming can involve using therapies that alter the metabolic pathways of cancer cells, restoring energy production and reducing oxidative stress.
If we influence the plasticity of cancer cells and leverage their ability to change, we may be able to encourage a return to a healthier state. This approach, which combines supporting healthy tissues, normalizing the ECM, and promoting cancer reversion, could offer gentle yet powerful ways to treat cancer.
I believe the future of cancer therapy is anchored in this research. Cancer, like other symptoms, can serve as an error-correcting mechanism, compelling us to address what we’ve neglected. Cells continuously adapt to their surroundings and can revert to a normal state, which can limit tumor growth. We must prioritize changing the environment that enabled cancer to thrive in the first place.
This concept is still under study but holds promise because it doesn’t rely on toxic therapies or directly killing cancer cells, but rather uses the body’s own systems to help regulate and revert cancer cells. I hope this research can create a powerful paradigm shift in how we view cancer. Our capacity to heal is far greater than we fully understand yet.