Molecular mechanisms altering cell identity in cancer.

Summary: Imagine cancer cells as master disguise artists. They don't just grow uncontrollably; they actively change their identity to survive. This article explains that when cancer cells face stress—like a harsh environment in the body or an attack from chemotherapy—they don't always die. Instead, they reprogram their internal instructions (epigenetics) to switch forms, much like a criminal changing their appearance to evade the police. These changes help them spread (metastasize) and resist drugs. Crucially, they pass these new "disguises" on to their daughter cells. Scientists are now trying to understand exactly how this identity-switching works so they can develop new treatments that lock cancer cells in place, preventing them from adapting and surviving.