CRISPR/Cas9-mediated gene deletion efficiently retards the progression of Philadelphia-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia in a p210 BCR-ABL1T315I mutation mouse model

Therapeutic applications of CRISPR/Cas9 mediated targeted gene editing in acute lymphoblastic leukemia: current perspectives, future challenges, and clinical implications

Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) is the predominant hematological malignancy in pediatric populations, originating from B- or T-cell precursors within the bone marrow. The disease exhibits a high degree of heterogeneity, both at the molecular level and in terms of clinical presentation. A complex interplay between inherited and acquired genetic alterations contributes to disease pathogenesis, often resulting in the disruption of cellular functions integral to the leukemogenic process. The advent of CRISPR/Cas9 as a gene editing tool has revolutionized biological research, underscoring its potential to modify specific genomic loci implicated in cancer. Enhanced understanding of molecular alterations in ALL has facilitated significant advancements in therapeutic strategies. In this review, we scrutinize the application of CRISPR/Cas9 as a tool for identifying genetic targets to improve therapy, circumvent drug resistance, and facilitate CAR-T cell-based immunotherapy. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and future prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 applications in ALL.

Utilization of CRISPR-Mediated Tools for Studying Functional Genomics in Hematological Malignancies: An Overview on the Current Perspectives, Challenges, and Clinical Implications

Hematological malignancies (HM) are a group of neoplastic diseases that are usually heterogenous in nature due to the complex underlying genetic aberrations in which collaborating mutations enable cells to evade checkpoints that normally safeguard it against DNA damage and other disruptions of healthy cell growth. Research regarding chromosomal structural rearrangements and alterations, gene mutations, and functionality are currently being carried out to understand the genomics of these abnormalities. It is also becoming more evident that cross talk between the functional changes in transcription and proteins gives the characteristics of the disease although specific mutations may induce unique phenotypes. Functional genomics is vital in this aspect as it measures the complete genetic change in cancerous cells and seeks to integrate the dynamic changes in these networks to elucidate various cancer phenotypes. The advent of CRISPR technology has indeed provided a superfluity of benefits to mankind, as this versatile technology enables DNA editing in the genome. The CRISPR-Cas9 system is a precise genome editing tool, and it has revolutionized methodologies in the field of hematology. Currently, there are various CRISPR systems that are used to perform robust site-specific gene editing to study HM. Furthermore, experimental approaches that are based on CRISPR technology have created promising tools for developing effective hematological therapeutics. Therefore, this review will focus on diverse applications of CRISPR-based gene-editing tools in HM and its potential future trajectory. Collectively, this review will demonstrate the key roles of different CRISPR systems that are being used in HM, and the literature will be a representation of a critical step toward further understanding the biology of HM and the development of potential therapeutic approaches.

CRISPR-Cas9 Technology as a Tool to Target Gene Drivers in Cancer: Proof of Concept and New Opportunities to Treat Chronic Myeloid Leukemia

Chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) is a hematopoietic malignancy produced by a unique oncogenic event involving the constitutively active tyrosine-kinase (TK) BCR/ABL1. TK inhibitors (TKI) changed its prognosis and natural history. Unfortunately, ABL1 remains unaffected by TKIs. Leukemic stem cells (LSCs) remain, and resistant mutations arise during treatment. To address this problem, we have designed a therapeutic CRISPR-Cas9 deletion system targeting BCR/ABL1. The system was efficiently electroporated to cell lines, LSCs from a CML murine model, and LSCs from CML patients at diagnosis, generating a specific ABL1 null mutation at high efficiency and allowing the edited leukemic cells to be detected and tracked. The CRISPR-Cas9 deletion system triggered cell proliferation arrest and apoptosis in murine and human CML cell lines. Patient and murine-derived xenografts with CRISPR-edited LSCs in NOD SCID gamma niches revealed that normal multipotency and repopulation ability of CRISPR edited LSCs were fully restored. Normal hematopoiesis was restored, avoiding myeloid bias. To the best of our knowledge, we show for the first time how a CRISPR-Cas9 deletion system efficiently interrupts BCR/ABL1 oncogene in primary LSCs to bestow a therapeutic benefit. This study is a proof of concept for genome editing in all those diseases, like CML, sustained by a single oncogenic event, opening up new therapeutic opportunities.

Manipulating the NKG2D Receptor-Ligand Axis Using CRISPR: Novel Technologies for Improved Host Immunity

The activating immune receptor natural killer group member D (NKG2D) and its cognate ligands represent a fundamental surveillance system of cellular distress, damage or transformation. Signaling through the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis is critical for early detection of viral infection or oncogenic transformation and the presence of functional NKG2D ligands (NKG2D-L) is associated with tumor rejection and viral clearance. Many viruses and tumors have developed mechanisms to evade NKG2D recognition via transcriptional, post-transcriptional or post-translational interference with NKG2D-L, supporting the concept that circumventing immune evasion of the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis may be an attractive therapeutic avenue for antiviral therapy or cancer immunotherapy. To date, the complexity of the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis and the lack of specificity of current NKG2D-targeting therapies has not allowed for the precise manipulation required to optimally harness NKG2D-mediated immunity. However, with the discovery of clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPRs) and CRISPR-associated (Cas) proteins, novel opportunities have arisen in the realm of locus-specific gene editing and regulation. Here, we give a brief overview of the NKG2D receptor-ligand axis in humans and discuss the levels at which NKG2D-L are regulated and dysregulated during viral infection and oncogenesis. Moreover, we explore the potential for CRISPR-based technologies to provide novel therapeutic avenues to improve and maximize NKG2D-mediated immunity.