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Updated: Jun 17, 2026
08:20
A New Toolkit for Evaluating Gene Functions using Conditional Cas9 Stabilization
Published on: September 2, 2021
Inducible CRISPR/Cas systems in precision oncology: Current applications and future perspectives
Ziliang Ding1, Yukun Wei1, Yong Han1
1Department of Thyroid Surgery, Binzhou Medical University Hospital, Binzhou, Shandong, PR China.
Clinical and Translational Medicine
|June 16, 2026
Summary
Inducible CRISPR/Cas systems offer precise genome editing for cancer therapy by responding to specific triggers. Further research is needed to overcome challenges before clinical application in precision oncology.
Area of Science:
- Biotechnology and Biomedical Engineering
- Genetics and Genomics
- Oncology
Background:
- Inducible CRISPR/Cas systems provide spatiotemporal control over genome editing.
- These systems can be activated by various stimuli, including chemical, optical, and physical triggers.
- Their controlled activity is crucial for reducing off-target effects and enhancing tumor-selective therapies in precision oncology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the molecular mechanisms, design principles, and applications of inducible CRISPR/Cas systems in cancer research and therapy.
- To classify different types of inducible CRISPR/Cas platforms based on their triggering mechanisms.
- To examine regulatory strategies and delivery approaches for these systems in cancer treatment.
Main Methods:
- Classification of inducible CRISPR/Cas systems into chemically inducible, optogenetic, tumor microenvironment-responsive, physically triggered, and logic-gated platforms.
- Discussion of regulatory strategies including transcriptional control, post-translational modification, guide RNA engineering, and stimulus-responsive delivery.
- Review of key applications such as functional genomic screening, cancer modeling, therapeutic gene editing, and immunotherapy enhancement.
Main Results:
- Inducible CRISPR/Cas systems are categorized by their activation methods and regulatory controls.
- Diverse applications in cancer research and therapy are highlighted, including gene editing and immunotherapy.
- Various delivery methods, from viral vectors to advanced nanocarriers, are explored for these systems.
Conclusions:
- Inducible CRISPR/Cas systems show significant promise for next-generation precision cancer therapies.
- Challenges such as leaky expression, induction efficiency, immunogenicity, and safety require further optimization and validation.
- Ex vivo immune-cell engineering and locoregional delivery present potential near-term clinical translation pathways.
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