CRISPR Technology Targets Undruggable Cancer Cells with Precision
A new study led by Jingkun Zeng, PhD, in collaboration with Jennifer Doudna's lab, has developed a CRISPR-based technology to target undruggable cancer cells. The research focuses on the tumor suppressor protein p53, which is mutated in nearly half of all cancers. The study, published in Nature, demonstrates the use of CRISPR-Cas12a2 to selectively trigger cancer cell death by chromatin shredding. This approach uses RNA-guided nuclease to recognize mutant p53 mRNA transcripts, showing therapeutic effectiveness in mouse models of lung and liver tumors. The technology leverages CRISPR's bacterial roots, which naturally defend against viral infections by cutting genetic material. This novel method allows for precise targeting of cancer cells, distinguishing them from healthy cells by a single nucleotide difference. 
