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Current Status of CRISPR/Cas9 Application in Clinical Cancer Research: Opportunities and Challenges

Saeed Rafii^1,2, Emad Tashkandi^3,4, Nedal Bukhari^5,6

¹Department of Oncology, Saudi German Hospital, Dubai P.O. Box 391093, United Arab Emirates.

|February 25, 2022

Abstract:

Cancer is considered by not only multiple genetic but also epigenetic amendments that drive malignant cell propagation and consult chemo-resistance. The ability to correct or ablate such mutations holds enormous promise for battling cancer. Recently, because of its great efficiency and feasibility, the CRISPR-Cas9 advanced genome editing technique has been extensively considered for therapeutic investigations of cancers. Several studies have used the CRISPR-Cas9 technique for editing cancer cell genomic DNA in cells and animal cancer models and have shown therapeutic potential in intensifying anti-cancer protocols. Moreover, CRISPR-Cas9 may be used to correct oncogenic mutations, discover anticancer drugs, and engineer immune cells and oncolytic viruses for immunotherapeutic treatment of cancer. We herein discuss the challenges and opportunities for translating therapeutic methods with CRISPR-Cas9 for clinical use and suggest potential directions of the CRISPR-Cas9 system for future cancer therapy.

Insights

CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing shows promise for cancer therapy by correcting mutations and enhancing treatments. This technology offers potential for drug discovery and immunotherapy, despite clinical translation challenges.

Area of Science:

Oncology
Genetics
Molecular Biology

Background:

Cancer involves genetic and epigenetic alterations driving malignancy and chemo-resistance.
Genome editing technologies offer potential for correcting cancer-causing mutations.

Purpose of the Study:

To review the therapeutic applications of CRISPR-Cas9 in cancer.
To discuss challenges and future directions for clinical translation of CRISPR-Cas9 cancer therapies.

Main Methods:

Review of existing studies on CRISPR-Cas9 for cancer cell genomic DNA editing.
Analysis of CRISPR-Cas9 applications in preclinical cancer models.

Main Results:

CRISPR-Cas9 demonstrates potential in enhancing anti-cancer protocols.
Applications include correcting oncogenic mutations, drug discovery, and immune cell/oncolytic virus engineering.

Conclusions:

CRISPR-Cas9 holds significant therapeutic promise for various cancer treatment strategies.
Further research is needed to overcome challenges for successful clinical translation.

Read full analysis

Keywords:

CAR-T CRISPR-Cas9 cancer therapy

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