The Role Of CRISPR In Cancer Screening

Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats (CRISPR),

 a game-changer in biomedicine unlocks the potential for large-scale genetic studies in cancer.

CRISPR is not just a tool, it's a revolution in cancer research, offering hope for a future where we can outsmart and overcome this disease.

It allows us to:

       Identify genes crucial for CAR T-cell therapy, improving its effectiveness.

       Pinpoint genes associated with breast cancer risk, aiding in prevention strategies.

       Discover vulnerabilities in colon cancer, paving the way for targeted therapies.

       Identify driver genes in liver cancer, facilitating better treatment options.

       Study tumor development, drug resistance, and immunotherapy, leading to breakthroughs.

This versatile technology, with its high efficiency and scalability, holds immense promise for revolutionizing cancer research and ultimately, improving patient outcomes.

Nobel Prize Winners for CRISPR Discovery:

Emmanuelle Charpentier and Jennifer Doudna (pictured below) were jointly awarded the 20
20 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their groundbreaking work on developing CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technology.




Applications of CRISPR:

1. Deciphering Cancer Vulnerabilities:

       Enhanced CAR T-cell therapy:
- CRISPR identifies genes like TLE4 and IKZF2, boosting CAR T-cell antitumor activity for improved cancer treatment.

       Actionable targets in colorectal cancer:
- RUVBL1/2 genes discovered as druggable targets for personalized therapy against YTHDF1-overexpressing cancer cells.


       Precise breast cancer risk assessment:
- CRISPR pinpoints gene targets associated with risk loci, aiding in early detection and prevention strategies.

 2. Decoding the Cancer Genome

       Overcoming drug resistance:
- Genome-wide CRISPR screens identify vulnerabilities in colon cancer, paving the way for therapies that bypass resistance.


       Driver genes in liver cancer:
- CRISPR activation screening reveals key genes driving liver cancer, facilitating targeted therapy development.

       Understanding the tumor microenvironment:
- Live CRISPR screens reveal key targets for novel immunotherapies.



Some other applications:

(1) Ribosome Profiling Protocol


(2) Analysis of P53-Wild-Type and P53-Knockout colon cancer organoids



(3) Pooled CRISPR screens for identifying genes associated with breast cancer risk loci

1. Unveiling Risk Genes:

- Pooled CRISPR screens decode gene roles within breast cancer risk loci, pinpointing the true drivers lurking among the suspects.

2. From Risk to Function:

- Validated "hit" genes reveal how specific risk variants influence their function, providing deeper insights into cancer development.

3. Precision Power:

- This knowledge fuels efforts for personalized risk assessment, targeted therapies, and potentially, future precision medicine approaches.

Practical Implications along the timeline:



Conclusion:

1.CRISPR screening in cancer research shows great promise:

       Identified key genes and pathways in various cancers, including bladder, colorectal, liver, and brain.

       Helped understand mechanisms of CAR T-cell therapy, drug resistance, and cancer development.

       Provided potential therapeutic targets and vulnerabilities for personalized treatment approaches.

2. CRISPR screening holds potential beyond cancer:

       Though success has been limited in other fields like cardiovascular research, the versatile and efficient nature of CRISPR screening suggests broader applicability.

       Further development and optimization can unlock its full potential for diverse research areas.


Behind The Biotechnology Journal :
Mansi Popat & Japan Raval

Comments