World Journal of
Pharmaceutical and Life Sciences

CRISPR/CAS9: TRANSFORMING CANCER CARE AND DISCOVERY WITH GAME-CHANGING DNA EDITING

Md. Mukarram Ali*, Mujahidul Islam

ABSTRACT

CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as a revolutionary tool for precise genome editing across diverse organisms. Initially discovered as a bacterial adaptive immune system, it has been repurposed to edit DNA with high programmability and efficiency using single-guide RNAs (sgRNAs). Beyond genome editing, CRISPR/Cas9 enables gene expression control, genomic tagging, and functional module recruitment, expanding its role in biomedical research and therapeutics. In cancer research, it accelerates the identification of tumorigenic pathways, uncovers cancer-specific vulnerabilities, and supports the design of novel therapies. Advances in Cas9 variants with altered PAM specificity, enhanced precision, and reduced off-target effects are broadening its applications in functional genomics. CRISPR/Cas9 has also transformed the development of organoid and mouse models for cancer, serving as robust platforms for preclinical studies. Early clinical trials of CRISPR/Cas9-based cancer immunotherapy show promising results, highlighting its therapeutic potential. This review explores the mechanistic and structural foundations of Cas9, recent technological advancements, and its applications and challenges in advancing cancer biology and therapy.

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