CRISPR-Cas9 system, the next generation in cancer therapy and target discovery

Journal of Experimental & Clinical Cancer Research is calling for submissions to our Collection on 'CRISPR-Cas9 system, the next generation in cancer therapy and target discovery.'

The CRISPR-Cas9 system represents the latest revolution in genome editing approaches, enabling the induction of a Cas9-mediated, RNA-guided DNA double-strand break, followed by the knock-out or knock-in of a selected gene. The refinement of this technology in molecular studies has revolutionized modern biology and cancer research by allowing for the functional characterization and discovery of coding and non-coding genes that serve as biomarkers or therapeutic targets for solid and haematological malignancies. In recent years, CRISPR technology has been modified to induce increasingly precise and sophisticated genetic changes, including base editing. Additionally, the ability of CRISPR to systematically perturb genes via high-throughput screening has emerged as one of the most exciting advantages of this approach, providing powerful tools for identifying novel tumour-specific vulnerabilities, modulators of drug sensitivity and resistance mechanisms, potential regulators of tumour-immune interactions and novel immune-oncology targets. The discovery of the CRISPR-Cas9 system has expanded the applications of genetic research worldwide and is redefining the gene therapy approach, as demonstrated in recent preclinical models and clinical trials of cancer. A large amount of novel information has been gained to date, and it can be predicted that the knowledge in the field will continue to expand in the near future. This special issue aims to focus on recent and innovative applications of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in cancer research and therapy.

Keywords: CRISPR-Cas9, CRISPR-screen, genome editing, target discovery, preclinical models, precision medicine, translational oncology