Gene editing in cancer therapy: overcoming drug resistance and enhancing precision medicine
Hyeonjeong Park, Suyeun Yu, Taeyoung Koo
Abstract
The CRISPR system has revolutionized cancer gene therapy, offering unparalleled precision in genetic manipulation for targeted oncogene disruption, mutation correction, and immune system modulation. This breakthrough tool has demonstrated remarkable potential in overcoming drug resistance, enhancing chemotherapy sensitivity, and improving immunotherapy strategies such as CRISPR-engineered CAR-T cells. Additionally, oncolytic virus-mediated CRISPR delivery has emerged as a novel approach for tumor-specific gene editing, minimizing off-target effects. The rapid transition of CRISPR-based cancer therapeutics from preclinical research to clinical trials underscores its therapeutic potential. This review explores the latest advancements in CRISPR applications for cancer therapy, including gene knockout, base editing for mutation correction, and integration with immune and viral therapies. Despite significant progress, challenges such as off-target effects, immune responses, and delivery limitations remain key hurdles. We discuss current strategies to enhance CRISPR safety and efficacy, emphasizing its potential for personalized cancer treatment.