Application of CRISPR in Cancer Research and Treatment

CRISPR/Cas9 is a potent tool for genome editing. It was discovered initially in bacteria as part of an adaptive immune system. Since then, it revolutionized the gene editing technique in prokaryotes as well as eukaryotic system. CRISPR system has been widely developed and used for cancer research, diagnosis, and treatment. Cancer is a complex and multifaceted disease that starts with a mutation of DNA that activates oncogenes and inactivates tumor suppressors and dysregulation of the epigenome, which coordinates regular gene expression. CRISPR/Cas9 has accelerated cancer research by providing an efficient technology to understand the mechanisms of tumorigenesis, identify targets for drug development, and engineer cells for cell-based therapies. This chapter briefly describes current CRISPR/Cas9 technology applications for cancer research and treatment. We highlighted the impact of CRISPR/Cas9 on performing genetic screens, cancer diagnosis, and developing animal model systems. Furthermore, we have highlighted the use of CRISPR/Cas9 in engineering cells for cancer immunotherapy