Beyond eradication: Therapeutic reprogramming strategies for cancer normalization (Review).

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epigenetics
• Cell Biology

Background:

• Cancer is increasingly viewed as a plastic disease state influenced by reversible epigenetic, transcriptional, and microenvironmental factors.
• This perspective shifts the focus from cell eradication to modulating cancer cell behavior.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review diverse strategies for reprogramming cancer cell fate.
• To explore novel therapeutic avenues for managing malignancy and overcoming resistance.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on cancer cell reprogramming strategies.
• Exploration of differentiation therapy, epigenetic remodeling, lineage reprogramming, senescence induction, and tumor microenvironment modulation.

Main Results:

• Cancer cell fate can be redirected through various reprogramming strategies.
• These approaches leverage cellular plasticity and adaptability to contain cancer.
• Reprogramming offers potential to overcome treatment resistance.

Conclusions:

• Reframing cancer as a reversible phenotype necessitates new clinical endpoints and dynamic biomarkers.
• Reprogramming-based oncology promises to transform aggressive cancers into manageable conditions.
• This approach offers a less toxic alternative to conventional cytotoxic therapies.