Chemistry Nobel Honors CRISPR, an "Essential" Tool for Cancer

    Cancer Discovery
    |October 10, 2020
    PubMed

    Insights

    CRISPR gene-editing technology, pioneered by Nobel laureates, is revolutionizing cancer research and treatment. Gene-edited T cell therapies are advancing rapidly in human trials for various cancers.

    Area of Science:

    • Biochemistry
    • Molecular Biology
    • Genetics

    Background:

    • CRISPR gene-editing technology, a site-specific DNA modification tool, has emerged as a revolutionary force in biomedical research.
    • The pioneering work of Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna in developing CRISPR technology earned them the 2020 Nobel Prize in Chemistry.

    Discussion:

    • CRISPR-based therapies are demonstrating significant potential in clinical applications, particularly in oncology.
    • The technology's precision allows for targeted genetic modifications, offering new avenues for treating complex diseases.

    Key Insights:

    • Gene-edited T cells are at the forefront of CRISPR-based cancer therapies currently undergoing human testing.
    • These advanced therapies are being developed for both hematological malignancies and solid tumors.

    Outlook:

    • The ongoing clinical trials signify a critical phase in translating CRISPR technology from laboratory discovery to patient treatment.
    • CRISPR gene editing holds immense promise for the future of personalized medicine and the development of novel cancer therapeutics.

    Related Concept Videos

    CRISPR01:59

    CRISPR

    Genome editing technologies allow scientists to modify an organism’s DNA via the addition, removal, or rearrangement of genetic material at specific genomic locations. These types of techniques could potentially be used to cure genetic disorders such as hemophilia and sickle cell anemia. One popular and widely used DNA-editing research tool that could lead to safe and effective cures for genetic disorders is the CRISPR-Cas9 system. CRISPR-Cas9 stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced...
    56.1K
    CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing01:28

    CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing

    The CRISPR-Cas system serves as a bacterial defense mechanism against invading genetic elements such as viruses and plasmids, forming the foundation for its adaptation as a powerful genome-editing tool. Originally discovered in prokaryotes, this system has been repurposed to revolutionize genetic engineering across a wide range of organisms, including plants, animals, and humans. The core component, Cas9, is an endonuclease derived from Streptococcus pyogenes, capable of introducing...
    1.2K
    Homologous Recombination02:31

    Homologous Recombination

    The basic reaction of homologous recombination (HR) involves two chromatids that contain DNA sequences sharing a significant stretch of identity. One of these sequences uses a strand from another as a template to synthesize DNA in an enzyme-catalyzed reaction. The final product is a novel amalgamation of the two substrates. To ensure an accurate recombination of sequences, HR is restricted to the S and G2 phases of the cell cycle. At these stages, the DNA has been replicated already and the...
    61.1K
    CRISPR and crRNAs02:53

    CRISPR and crRNAs

    Bacteria and archaea are susceptible to viral infections just like eukaryotes; therefore, they have developed a unique adaptive immune system to protect themselves. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats and CRISPR-associated proteins (CRISPR-Cas) are present in more than 45% of known bacteria and 90% of known archaea.
    The CRISPR-Cas system stores a copy of foreign DNA in the host genome and uses it to identify the foreign DNA upon reinfection. CRISPR-Cas has three different...
    18.3K
    The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR01:23

    The Antiviral System of Bacteria and Archaea: CRISPR

    CRISPR stands for Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats is a adaptive immune system found in bacteria and archaea that protects against viral infections. This system enables prokaryotic cells to identify, remember, and neutralize foreign genetic elements, primarily bacteriophages, by storing fragments of the invader’s DNA as a genetic memory.The CRISPR immune response begins during an initial infection. Cas (CRISPR-associated) proteins play a central role in this...
    482
    Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells02:53

    Adaptive Mechanisms in Cancer Cells

    Cancer cells accumulate genetic changes at an abnormally rapid rate due to the defects in the DNA repair mechanisms. From an evolutionary perspective, such genetic instability is advantageous for cancer development. Mutant cell lines accumulate a series of beneficial mutations that contribute to their progression into cancer.
    Some of the advantages that cancer cells have on normal cells include - enhanced ability to divide without terminally differentiating, induce new blood vessel formation,...
    6.6K