CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing for cancer immunotherapy: opportunities and challenges

Ming Chen; Jiang Xu; Yang Zhou; Silin Zhang; Di Zhu

doi:10.1093/bfgp/elz027

CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing for cancer immunotherapy: opportunities and challenges

Brief Funct Genomics. 2020 May 20;19(3):183-190. doi: 10.1093/bfgp/elz027.

Authors

Ming Chen^{1

2}, Jiang Xu³, Yang Zhou⁴, Silin Zhang⁵, Di Zhu^{4

6}

Affiliations

¹ Department of Laboratory Medicine, Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Yangzhou University, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China, 225400.
² Department of Laboratory Medicine, Affiliated Taixing Hospital of Bengbu Medical College, Taizhou, Jiangsu, China, 225400.
³ Department of Rehabilitation, Huai'an Second People's Hospital, The Affiliated Huai'an Hospital of Xuzhou Medical University, Huai'an, China, 223001.
⁴ Department of Pharmacology, Minhang Hospital and School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China 201203.
⁵ Reproductive Medicine Center, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, Hubei, China, 430060.
⁶ Key Laboratory of Smart Drug Delivery, Ministry of Education, School of Pharmacy, Fudan University, Shanghai, China, 201203.

PMID: 31788683
DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elz027

Abstract

Cancer immunotherapy, consisting of antibodies, adoptive T-cell transfer, vaccines and cytokines, is a novel strategy for fighting cancer by artificially stimulating the immune system. It has developed rapidly in recent years, and its efficacy in hematological malignancies and solid tumors has been remarkable. It is regarded as one of the most promising methods for cancer therapy. The current trend in immunotherapy research seeks to improve its efficacy and to ensure the safety of cancer immunotherapy through the use of gene editing technologies. As it is an efficient and simple technology, the CRISPR-Cas9 system is highly anticipated to dramatically strengthen cancer immunotherapy. Intensive research on the CRISPR-Cas9 system has provided increasing confidence to clinicians that this system can be put into clinical use in the near future. This paper reviews the application and challenges of CRISPR-Cas9 in this field, based on various strategies including adaptive cell therapy and antibody therapy, and also highlights the function of CRISPR/Cas9 in the screening of new cancer targets.

Keywords: CAR-T; CRISPR-Cas9; TCR-T; antibody; cancer immunotherapy.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

CRISPR-Cas Systems / genetics*
Gene Editing / methods*
Humans
Immunotherapy / methods*
Neoplasms / genetics*