How would you go about reprogramming cancer cells back to normalcy? You would first identify the most likely candidate(s) for Cell Recognition Factor(s) and determine how they change during the development of, let's say, a pancreatic cell. From the time of the first egg mass to mature adult cell, what CRF's were being expressed? Take these and chemically attach them to a carrier that is able to diffuse through tissue. Inject the complex into the blood or lymphatic system. Repeat the cocktail until normalcy is achieved. Once we know the exact sequence that particular CRF's are expressed, we can just inject stage-specific CRF's in a particular sequence. A difficulty that I'm hoping does not present itself is that of individual variations in CRF's. We may not want to have to design a sequence on an individual basis. It would be much better, at least initially, if one sequence for differentiation of pancreas cells was the same for all individuals. Essential elements...
A theory created to explain the fact that cancer cells turn back to normal when put in an embryo; it's called the cell recognition theory of cancer. Basically, a cell loses touch with its neighbor(s)or with the ECM. This releases the physical constraints on the nucleus which then cycles through earlier embryonic stages hoping to establish contact once again (it partially succeeds when it establishes a metastasis).
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