Hyundai ADM, as part of its 'Project 2023 Global AI-IP Bio-Pharmaceutical Team' with major stakeholders CNP and Hyundai Bioscience, announced a groundbreaking achievement on September 9th. They have identified a multi-targeting effect that can preemptively block three core elements causing cancer cell metastasis in a patient-derived organoid (PDO) model specifically for pancreatic cancer. This represents a significant clinical solution to the long-standing unresolved issue of the 'Seed and Soil' hypothesis in cancer research, which has lingered since its inception by Stephen Paget in 1889.

The research findings noted that existing chemotherapy treatments primarily focus on attacking the cancer cells themselves (the 'Seed') and have failed to address the cancer's surrounding microenvironment, which plays a crucial role in metastasis. The new treatment paradigm introduced by Hyundai ADM allows for direct control over this microenvironment, potentially leading to a higher efficacy in preventing metastasis. This opens up new avenues for further research and treatment strategies in the fight against cancer, emphasizing not only the cancer cell but also the environment in which it thrives.

The collaborative team demonstrated that their lead candidate substance, 'Penitrim', creates an inhospitable environment where cancer cells cannot survive by establishing a 'three lines of defense'. This 'three lines of defense' includes inhibiting niche formation by disrupting the extracellular matrix (ECM), inducing anoikis (loss of adhesion-induced cell death), and potentially other mechanisms yet to be fully elucidated. The suppression of genes such as COL1A1 and FN1 illustrated how the physical basis of metastasis could effectively be challenged, thus breaking the engraftment process of cancer cells. This research not only holds promise for cancer treatment but also signifies a transformative shift in therapeutic strategies for targeting cancer metastasis.