Scientists Built Cancer Kill Switch That Turns On With Flash of Light, Study Shows

Key Points:

• Researchers in Switzerland have developed light-activated molecules called photoPROTACs that can selectively destroy the glucocorticoid receptor in cancer cells, a protein that induces drug-resistant dormancy in tumors like lung cancer.
• These photoPROTACs act as molecular switches, becoming active or inactive when exposed to specific wavelengths of light, allowing precise control over receptor destruction only where and when desired, minimizing damage to healthy tissues.
• In lab tests, the lead compounds KH-5-306 and KH-5-309 effectively reversed dormancy in lung cancer cells induced by dexamethasone, demonstrating potential to disrupt cancer’s ability to evade treatment by entering a sleep-like state.
• A major challenge remains in delivering activating light deep into body tissues, as current wavelengths do not penetrate far; future research aims to develop compounds responsive to near-infrared light for clinical applications.
• While still early-stage and limited to laboratory settings, this light-controlled approach offers a promising new tool for studying and potentially overcoming cancer cell dormancy, a key obstacle to lasting cures.