3 CLINICAL APPLICATIONS OF
CRISPR-CAS9
Since the scientists have uncovered the basic working
mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas 9 system, they begin
using it as a gene editing technology in the field of
medicine, agriculture and gene modification. This
review will mainly discuss the application of
CRISPR-Cas 9 system in different cancer types.
There are progressions being observed in the use of
gene editing technology to treat colon cancer at
clinical level (Meng et al. 2023, Hu et al. 2023). Gene
knockout, a technique of introducing a mutation in
order to inactivate an organism’s gene that is
suspicious to control a certain trait. Knocking out
PUM1 in cells via CRISPR-Cas 9, scientists find that
the cell activity is reduced by 25-30%. Tumor cell
growth is inhibited when WHSC1 is knocked out and
the metastasis ability is further decreased. The effect
of CRISPR-Cas 9 for gene knockout makes genes
encouraging tumor cells’ growth and providing
proper condition for the development of colon cancer
unable to regulate the expressions anymore (Meng et
al. 2023). Also, the scientists utilize CRISPR-Cas 9
system to construct 3D animal model to stimulate the
tumor environment. Designed sgRNA can induce
particular mutations, enabling the model with specific
genetic mutation to be investigated (Hu et al. 2023).
In the experiment of human intestinal stem cells,
scientists use CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce four
frequently mutated genes (TP53, SMAD4, APC and
KRAS) in activated colorectal tumor cells, observing
the growth of carcinoma.
The strength of CIRSPR-Cas 9 is revealed in
curing gallbladder cancer as well: first, the research
team in Germany utilize Cas9 and other tools to
silence the expression of TP53 and activate latent
KRAS mutant (two most frequently mutated genes
of the Gallbladder cancer) (Erlangga et al. 2019). A
negative control was carried out by an sgRNA
which targets a non-genic area on chromosome 8.
Based on TP53 loss along with the mutated gene
ERBB2 (another commonly mutated gene in
Gallbladder cancer), the mice appear to have
papillary Gallbladder cancer (Erlangga et al.2019).
The team proves that the activation of specific
genes combined with the loss of one or multiple
tumor suppressor gene can purposely control the
appearance of Gallbladder cancer in experimental
mice (Erlangga et al. 2019). Meanwhile, CRISPR-
Cas 9 has been applied in brain cancer. Similarly,
the researchers constructing four animal models
knock out Trp53, Nf1, Ptch1 and Pten that are
related to medulloblastomas with the assistance of
CRISPR-Cas9 technology. CRISPR-Cas9 featuring
higher accuracy and higher chance to succeed is
able to construct a GEMM model faster than
traditional one and therefore, it is applied in gene
knockout models of a variety of animals (Feng et al.
2024).
4 CURRENT CHALLENGES
BASED ON MEDICAL AND
ETHICAL LEVELS
Despite the superiority of CRISPR-Cas 9 technology,
there are remaining issues that need to be solved. The
off-target effect should be investigated when
CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing technique is put into
practice. In fact, off-target effect is a potential
problem in applications of many cancer treatments
and it is more frequent in human cells. The cause is
partially due to incomplete homologies between
gRNA and other regions of the genome and CRISPR-
Cas9 system binds to a sequence similar to the one
that should be cut (Rabaan et al. 2023). A mutation in
allele of off-target effect in a population will be
passed to the next generation based on genetic drift,
raising the number of offspring with this kind of
mutation. Unfortunately, off-target effect appears
more commonly in human cells. The form in which
CRISPR-Cas9 constituents are injected in cells is as
protein, DNA or RNA. In the simulation model of
mice, it is hard for the mice with genetic modification
to pass their changed genetic material to their
offsprings (Liu et al. 2023).
Another major consideration might be the
ethical aspects. To be more specific, gene editing
technology is seriously prohibited in the edition of
human reproductive cells. For example, “He Jiankui
affair”, a controversy over scientific progression of
gene editing technique and human ethical issues, is
a typical case. He Jiankui, a former professor and a
researcher in Southern University of Science and
Technology (SUS tech), China, created the first
genetically modified babies in human history. In the
year of 2018, He recruited 8 pairs of couples (eight
males positive for HIV antibodies) for the
experiment. Then, He manually edited the embryo’s
genes using CRISPR-Cas9 technology and had a
volunteer give birth to twins after artificial
insemination. He aimed to make the infants born to
be immune to AIDS by modifying their genetic
composition. It is studied that HIV would attach to