CRISPR technology in the Cancer field: Advantages, Limits, and Applications

Abstract

In 2024, there were 2.4 million cancer cases projected. This was the first time the estimated cases were above two million, and this number is expected to rise. All this can start with an accumulation of DNA mutations that can create cancer cells. Once these cancer cells start to grow uncontrollably, they become tumors which may be malignant and spread throughout the body. Since cancer starts with DNA mutations and cancer cases are growing, technology has been created that can manipulate DNA. CRISPR is a gene editing technology which uses guiding RNA to lead  Cas9 protein into a specific part of the genome, where a part of the DNA can be cut. Genes can be disabled or new material can be added. The first study in cancer treatment was in 2019 where the patient’s immune cells, the T cells, were genetically modified to better detect and kill the cancer. The findings suggest that the treatment was safe, but needs improvement in efficiency. This review paper aims to uncover ways CRISPR can be used to treat cancer and whether it is an effective method to do so.