Executive TL;DR:
- CRISPR tech can selectively shred cancer cells, including ‘undruggable’ cancers.
- Researchers use Cas12a2, a more destructive enzyme than Cas9, to target tumor-specific mutations.
- The treatment may face challenges as tumors evolve resistance.
The Buzz Score
The Internet’s Verdict: 70% Hyped, 30% Skeptical
Expert Opinions
Many experts are optimistic about CRISPR’s potential in cancer treatment. As one forum user notes:
Yes! I have a genetic disease that will take me out in my 70s and I’m really hoping CRISPR gets to it before I do!
Others are more skeptical, pointing out that CRISPR is not a new concept and that previous studies have used similar approaches:
The idea of using CRISPR/Cas to detect tumor-specific mutations that aren’t necessarily oncogenic and then kill the cell is not a new one.
Challenges Ahead
Despite the excitement, some experts caution that the treatment may face challenges as tumors evolve resistance. One user comments:
My guess is that cells will find ways to reject the lipid nanoparticles used to deliver the CRISPR/Cas mRNA and associated guide sequence(s), either via modifications to the cell surface (preventing LNP uptake) or via changes to endosomal/lysosomal pathways (causing the mRNA payload to get degraded before it has a chance to be translated into protein).
Focus Keyword: CRISPR Cancer
