Prospects and challenges of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology in cancer research

A platform for precise quantification of gene editing products based on microfluidic chip-based digital PCR

The new generation of gene editing technologies, primarily based on CRISPR/Cas9 and its derivatives, allows for more precise editing of organisms. However, when the editing efficiency is low, only a small fraction of gene fragments is edited, leaving behind minimal traces and making it difficult to detect and evaluate the editing effects. Although a series of technologies and methods have been developed, they lack the ability for precise quantification and quantitative analysis of these products. Digital polymerase chain reaction (dPCR) offers advantages such as high precision and sensitivity, making it suitable for absolute quantification of nucleic acid samples. In the present study, we developed a novel platform for precise quantification of gene editing products based on microfluidic chip-based dPCR. The results indicated that our assay accurately identified different types of edited samples within a variety of different types, including more complex genomic crops such as tetraploid rapeseed and soybean (highly repetitive sequence). The sensitivity of this detection platform was as low as 8.14 copies per μL, with a detection limit of 0.1%. These results demonstrated the superior performance of the platform, including high sensitivity, low detection limit, and wide applicability, enabling precise quantification and assessment of gene editing efficiency. In conclusion, microfluidic chip-based dPCR was used as a powerful tool for precise quantification and assessment of gene editing products.

GMP-manufactured CRISPR/Cas9 technology as an advantageous tool to support cancer immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

CRISPR/Cas9 system to treat human-related diseases has achieved significant results and, even if its potential application in cancer research is improving, the application of this approach in clinical practice is still a nascent technology.

MAIN BODY

CRISPR/Cas9 technology is not yet used as a single therapy to treat tumors but it can be combined with traditional treatment strategies to provide personalized gene therapy for patients. The combination with chemotherapy, radiation and immunotherapy has been proven to be a powerful means of screening, identifying, validating and correcting tumor targets. Recently, CRISPR/Cas9 technology and CAR T-cell therapies have been integrated to open novel opportunities for the production of more efficient CAR T-cells for all patients. GMP-compatible equipment and reagents are already available for several clinical-grade systems at present, creating the basis and framework for the accelerated development of novel treatment methods.

CONCLUSION

Here we will provide a comprehensive collection of the actual GMP-grade CRISPR/Cas9-mediated approaches used to support cancer therapy highlighting how this technology is opening new opportunities for treating tumors.

Preclinical Anticipation of On- and Off-Target Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Systematic Review

The advent of targeted therapies has led to tremendous improvements in treatment options and their outcomes in the field of oncology. Yet, many cancers outsmart precision drugs by developing on-target or off-target resistance mechanisms. Gaining the ability to resist treatment is the rule rather than the exception in tumors, and it remains a major healthcare challenge to achieve long-lasting remission in most cancer patients. Here, we discuss emerging strategies that take advantage of innovative high-throughput screening technologies to anticipate on- and off-target resistance mechanisms before they occur in treated cancer patients. We divide the methods into non-systematic approaches, such as random mutagenesis or long-term drug treatment, and systematic approaches, relying on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, saturated mutagenesis, or computational methods. All these new developments, especially genome-wide CRISPR-based screening platforms, have significantly accelerated the processes for identification of the mechanisms responsible for cancer drug resistance and opened up new avenues for future treatments.