CRISPR/Cas9 for cancer treatment: technology, clinical applications and challenges

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 209-214 ◽  
Author(s):  
Xing Cheng ◽  
Shaoyi Fan ◽  
Chengcai Wen ◽  
Xianfa Du

Abstract Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) is described as RNA mediated adaptive immune system defense, which is naturally found in bacteria and archaea. CRISPR-Cas9 has shown great promise for cancer treatment in cancer immunotherapy, manipulation of cancer genome and epigenome and elimination or inactivation of carcinogenic viral infections. However, many challenges remain to be addressed to increase its efficacy, including off-target effects, editing efficiency, fitness of edited cells, immune response and delivery methods. Here, we explain CRISPR-Cas classification and its general function mechanism for gene editing. Then, we summarize these preclinical CRISPR-Cas9-based therapeutic strategies against cancer. Moreover, the challenges and improvements of CRISPR-Cas9 clinical applications will be discussed.

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (5-6) ◽  
pp. 411-411
Author(s):  
Xing Cheng ◽  
Shaoyi Fan ◽  
Chengcai Wen ◽  
Xianfa Du

2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Xue Gong ◽  
Haizhou Wang ◽  
Ruomeng Li ◽  
Kaiyue Tan ◽  
Jie Wei ◽  
...  

AbstractThe systemic therapeutic utilisation of RNA interference (RNAi) is limited by the non-specific off-target effects, which can have severe adverse impacts in clinical applications. The accurate use of RNAi requires tumour-specific on-demand conditional activation to eliminate the off-target effects of RNAi, for which conventional RNAi systems cannot be used. Herein, a tumourous biomarker-activated RNAi platform is achieved through the careful design of RNAi prodrugs in extracellular vesicles (EVs) with cancer-specific recognition/activation features. These RNAi prodrugs are assembled by splitting and reconstituting the principal siRNAs into a hybridisation chain reaction (HCR) amplification machine. EVs facilitate the specific and efficient internalisation of RNAi prodrugs into target tumour cells, where endogenous microRNAs (miRNAs) promote immediate and autonomous HCR-amplified RNAi activation to simultaneously silence multiantenna hypoxia-related genes. With multiple guaranteed cancer recognition and synergistic therapy features, the miRNA-initiated HCR-promoted RNAi cascade holds great promise for personalised theranostics that enable reliable diagnosis and programmable on-demand therapy.


2020 ◽  
Vol 26 (41) ◽  
pp. 7520-7532 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Rita Dias ◽  
João Costa-Rodrigues ◽  
Cátia Teixeira ◽  
Cristina Prudêncio ◽  
Paula Gomes ◽  
...  

: The unique properties of ionic liquids make them quite appealing for diverse applications, from “green” solvents (1st generation ionic liquids) to finely tuned materials (2nd generation ionic liquids). A decade ago, a 3rd generation of ionic liquids emerged which is focused on their prospective clinical applications, either as drugs per se or as adjuvants in drug formulations. In recent years, research focused on the use of ionic liquids for topical drug delivery has been increasing and holds great promise towards clinical application against skin cancers. This article highlights the growing relevance of ionic liquids in medicinal chemistry and pharmaceutical technology, which is opening new windows of opportunity.


2020 ◽  
Vol 27 (33) ◽  
pp. 5510-5529
Author(s):  
Zengtao Wang ◽  
Qingqing Meng ◽  
Shaoshun Li

Background: Multidrug Resistance (MDR) is defined as a cross-resistance of cancer cells to various chemotherapeutics and has been demonstrated to correlate with drug efflux pumps. Visualization of drug efflux pumps is useful to pre-select patients who may be insensitive to chemotherapy, thus preventing patients from unnecessary treatment. Near-Infrared (NIR) imaging is an attractive approach to monitoring MDR due to its low tissue autofluorescence and deep tissue penetration. Molecular NIR imaging of MDR cancers requires stable probes targeting biomarkers with high specificity and affinity. Objective: This article aims to provide a concise review of novel NIR probes and their applications in MDR cancer treatment. Results: Recently, extensive research has been performed to develop novel NIR probes and several strategies display great promise. These strategies include chemical conjugation between NIR dyes and ligands targeting MDR-associated biomarkers, native NIR dyes with inherent targeting ability, activatable NIR probes as well as NIR dyes loaded nanoparticles. Moreover, NIR probes have been widely employed for photothermal and photodynamic therapy in cancer treatment, which combine with other modalities to overcome MDR. With the rapid advancing of nanotechnology, various nanoparticles are incorporated with NIR dyes to provide multifunctional platforms for controlled drug delivery and combined therapy to combat MDR. The construction of these probes for MDR cancers targeted NIR imaging and phototherapy will be discussed. Multimodal nanoscale platform which integrates MDR monitoring and combined therapy will also be encompassed. Conclusion: We believe these NIR probes project a promising approach for diagnosis and therapy of MDR cancers, thus holding great potential to reach clinical settings in cancer treatment.


Author(s):  
Sourav Bhattacharjee

In this second Expert Perspective video with Sourav Bhattacharjee of the University College Dublin, Sourav discusses how nanomedicine is being used in clinical research, with particular emphasis on the role of nanomedicine and nanotechnology in cancer treatment.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1195 ◽  
Author(s):  
Zhannat Ashikbayeva ◽  
Daniele Tosi ◽  
Damir Balmassov ◽  
Emiliano Schena ◽  
Paola Saccomandi ◽  
...  

Cancer is one of the major health issues with increasing incidence worldwide. In spite of the existing conventional cancer treatment techniques, the cases of cancer diagnosis and death rates are rising year by year. Thus, new approaches are required to advance the traditional ways of cancer therapy. Currently, nanomedicine, employing nanoparticles and nanocomposites, offers great promise and new opportunities to increase the efficacy of cancer treatment in combination with thermal therapy. Nanomaterials can generate and specifically enhance the heating capacity at the tumor region due to optical and magnetic properties. The mentioned unique properties of nanomaterials allow inducing the heat and destroying the cancerous cells. This paper provides an overview of the utilization of nanoparticles and nanomaterials such as magnetic iron oxide nanoparticles, nanorods, nanoshells, nanocomposites, carbon nanotubes, and other nanoparticles in the thermal ablation of tumors, demonstrating their advantages over the conventional heating methods.


2021 ◽  
Vol 21 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Muhammad Javed Iqbal ◽  
Zeeshan Javed ◽  
Haleema Sadia ◽  
Ijaz A. Qureshi ◽  
Asma Irshad ◽  
...  

AbstractArtificial intelligence (AI) is the use of mathematical algorithms to mimic human cognitive abilities and to address difficult healthcare challenges including complex biological abnormalities like cancer. The exponential growth of AI in the last decade is evidenced to be the potential platform for optimal decision-making by super-intelligence, where the human mind is limited to process huge data in a narrow time range. Cancer is a complex and multifaced disorder with thousands of genetic and epigenetic variations. AI-based algorithms hold great promise to pave the way to identify these genetic mutations and aberrant protein interactions at a very early stage. Modern biomedical research is also focused to bring AI technology to the clinics safely and ethically. AI-based assistance to pathologists and physicians could be the great leap forward towards prediction for disease risk, diagnosis, prognosis, and treatments. Clinical applications of AI and Machine Learning (ML) in cancer diagnosis and treatment are the future of medical guidance towards faster mapping of a new treatment for every individual. By using AI base system approach, researchers can collaborate in real-time and share knowledge digitally to potentially heal millions. In this review, we focused to present game-changing technology of the future in clinics, by connecting biology with Artificial Intelligence and explain how AI-based assistance help oncologist for precise treatment.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (4) ◽  
pp. 893
Author(s):  
Luc Rochette ◽  
Marianne Zeller ◽  
Yves Cottin ◽  
Catherine Vergely

Understanding the structure and dynamics of the various hydrogen forms has been a subject of numerous studies. Protons (H+) and molecular hydrogen (H2) in the cell are critical in a wide variety of processes. A new cancer treatment uses H2, a biologically inactive gas. Due to its small molecular weight, H2 can rapidly penetrate cell membranes and reach subcellular components to protect nuclear DNA and mitochondria. H2 reduces oxidative stress, exerts anti-inflammatory effects, and acts as a modulator of apoptosis. Exogenous H2, administered by inhalation, drinking H2-rich water, or injecting H2-rich saline solution, is a protective therapy that can be used in multiple diseases, including cancer. In particle therapy, cyclotrons and synchrotrons are the accelerators currently used to produce protons. Proton beam radiotherapy (PBT) offers great promise for the treatment of a wide variety of cancers due to the sharp decrease in the dose of radiation at a defined point. In these conditions, H2 and different types of H2 donors may represent a novel therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment.


2019 ◽  
Vol 33 (03) ◽  
pp. 155-161 ◽  
Author(s):  
Amjed Abu-Ghname ◽  
Aurelia Trisliana Perdanasari ◽  
Matthew J. Davis ◽  
Edward M. Reece

AbstractPlatelet-rich plasma (PRP) is an autogenously harvested liquid platelet concentrate extracted from a patient's peripheral blood that contains higher than baseline concentrations of growth factors and cytokines. This innovative new technology has demonstrated great promise in the field of plastic surgery, and its use has been evaluated in several clinical settings including wound healing, hair restoration, and skin rejuvenation. The goal of this article is to explain the biology behind PRP and to review the basic principles involved in its preparation. This will be followed by a discussion of some clinical applications of PRP in both aesthetic and reconstructive plastic surgery.


2017 ◽  
Vol 8 (3-4) ◽  
pp. 131-141 ◽  
Author(s):  
Julia C. LeCher ◽  
Scott J. Nowak ◽  
Jonathan L. McMurry

AbstractCell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) have long held great promise for the manipulation of living cells for therapeutic and research purposes. They allow a wide array of biomolecules from large, oligomeric proteins to nucleic acids and small molecules to rapidly and efficiently traverse cytoplasmic membranes. With few exceptions, if a molecule can be associated with a CPP, it can be delivered into a cell. However, a growing realization in the field is that CPP-cargo fusions largely remain trapped in endosomes and are eventually targeted for degradation or recycling rather than released into the cytoplasm or trafficked to a desired subcellular destination. This ‘endosomal escape problem’ has confounded efforts to develop CPP-based delivery methods for drugs, enzymes, plasmids, etc. This review provides a brief history of CPP research and discusses current issues in the field with a primary focus on the endosomal escape problem, for which several promising potential solutions have been developed. Are we on the verge of developing technologies to deliver therapeutics such as siRNA, CRISPR/Cas complexes and others that are currently failing because of an inability to get into cells, or are we just chasing after another promising but unworkable technology? We make the case for optimism.


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