Application of CRISPR screen in mechanistic studies of tumor development, tumor drug resistance, and tumor immunotherapy

HPV-driven cancers: a looming threat and the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 for targeted therapy

Cervical and other anogenital malignancies are largely caused by E6 and E7 oncogenes of high-risk human papillomaviruses (HPVs), which inhibit important tumor suppressors like p53 and pRb when they are persistently activated. The main goal of traditional treatments is to physically or chemically kill cancer cells, but they frequently only offer temporary relief, have serious side effects, and have a high risk of recurrence. Exploring the efficacy and accuracy of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in both inducing death in HPV-infected cancer cells and restoring the activity of tumor suppressors is our main goal. In this study, we propose a novel precision oncology strategy that targets and inhibits the detrimental effects of the E6 and E7 oncogenes using the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system. In order to do this, we create unique guide RNAs that target the integrated HPV DNA and reactivate p53 and pRb. Reactivation is meant to halt aberrant cell development and restart the cell's natural dying pathways. This review discusses the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 in targeting HPV oncogenes, with a focus on studies that have demonstrated its promise in cancer treatment. Given the absence of a definitive treatment for papillomavirus infection and its subsequent association with various cancers, future clinical trials and experimental investigations appear essential to establish and evaluate the therapeutic potential of CRISPR-based approaches. This approach provides a less invasive alternative to conventional treatments and opens the door to personalized care that considers the genetic makeup of each patient's tumor.

Comprehensive Investigation of a Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor-Resistant Gene Zeste White 10 in Hepatocellular Carcinoma

Background

Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are first-line therapies for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), but the drug resistance restricts the long-term clinical outcomes. This study aimed to investigate the expression patterns and possible clinical significance of a TKI-resistant gene zeste white 10 (ZW10) in HCC.

Methods

Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) screening was conducted to obtain TKI-resistant genes. Pan-cancer analysis was employed to analyze the expression landscape of the critical TKI-resistant gene ZW10. Transcriptional expression data for ZW10 were obtained from 76 centers, including 3,312 HCC samples and 2,703 noncancerous tissues. A summary receiver operating characteristic (SROC) curve was built to evaluate ZW10 expression characteristics in HCC. Unpaired two-sample Wilcoxon method was conducted to analyze ZW10 expression levels in HCC of various etiologies. Univariate Cox method was employed to assess the prognostic value of ZW10. Moreover, the gene function within HCC cell lines, the TKI treatment responses, key pathways, and tumor microenvironment of ZW10 were bioinformatically investigated. Drug prediction and molecular docking techniques were used to explore the potency of ZW10 as a novel therapeutic target.

Results

The abundance of small guide RNA (sgRNA) corresponding to ZW10 gene was decreased in the whole genome CRISPR knockout library (LogFC = -1.19), indicating that ZW10 may participate in TKI resistance. The differential expression landscape of ZW10 was found in various malignancies including HCC, which was associated with poorer prognosis. Pooled standardized mean difference (SMD) of ZW10 mRNA expression was 0.47 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.32 - 0.63), the area under SROC was 0.76 (95% CI: 0.72 - 0.79), the sensitivity was 0.63 (95% CI: 0.53 - 0.72), and the specificity was 0.77 (95% CI: 0.67 - 0.84). ZW10 was investigated significant for the growth of HCC cells. Nucleocytoplasmic transport was the possible pathway that ZW10 involved. High level of ZW10 was reversely associated with TKI responses and the abundance of immune cell infiltration. Mocetinostat and capecitabine were predicted to be the potential inhibitors targeting ZW10 with a minimum binding energy of -8.2 and -7.1 kcal/mol, respectively.

Conclusions

ZW10 is considered a TKI-resistant and tumor-supportive gene, which is also a promising novel prognostic biomarker for HCC or a therapeutic target for overcoming TKI resistance.

CD312 Promotes Paediatric Acute Lymphoblastic Leukaemia Through GNA15-Mediated Non-Classical GPCR Signalling Pathway

The bone marrow-infiltrated immune microenvironment plays a crucial role in blood system diseases, such as leukaemia. In this study, we aimed to investigate the critical role of the immune microenvironment in the onset and progression of childhood acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL). Through high-throughput detection and screening of the GPCR database in the childhood ALL immune microenvironment, we identified CD312 as a candidate target. CD312 is associated with the distribution of Treg and CTL cells within the bone marrow immune microenvironment of ALL children. After CD312 knockdown, the proportion of the Treg subgroup in immune cells was significantly reduced, whereas the proportion of CTL subgroup cells was increased. CD312 exhibited good affinity with GNA15 in the transmembrane intracellular segment, and it could interact with GNA15. The BrdU staining assay revealed that the proliferation of leukaemia cells was enhanced in the CD312-overexpressed CD3+ T cells group via the phosphorylation of ERK, JNK and p38, whereas it was decreased by GNA15 knockdown in the co-culture system. In conclusion, our study suggests that CD312 fosters a suppressive immune microenvironment in the onset and progression of paediatric ALL through a GNA15-mediated non-classical GPCR signalling pathway.

Biomaterial-Based CRISPR/Cas9 Delivery Systems for Tumor Treatment

CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing technology is characterized by high specificity and efficiency, and has been applied to the treatment of human diseases, especially tumors involving multiple genetic modifications. However, the clinical application of CRISPR/Cas9 still faces some major challenges, the most urgent of which is the development of optimized delivery vectors. Biomaterials are currently the best choice for use in CRISPR/Cas9 delivery vectors owing to their tunability, biocompatibility, and efficiency. As research on biomaterial vectors continues to progress, hope for the application of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for clinical oncology therapy builds. In this review, we first detail the CRISPR/Cas9 system and its potential applications in tumor therapy. Then, we introduce the different delivery forms and compare the physical, viral, and non-viral vectors. In addition, we analyze the characteristics of different types of biomaterial vectors. We further review recent research progress in the use of biomaterials as vectors for CRISPR/Cas9 delivery to treat specific tumors. Finally, we summarize the shortcomings and prospects of biomaterial-based CRISPR/Cas9 delivery systems.

Comprehensive review of CRISPR-based gene editing: mechanisms, challenges, and applications in cancer therapy

The CRISPR system is a revolutionary genome editing tool that has the potential to revolutionize the field of cancer research and therapy. The ability to precisely target and edit specific genetic mutations that drive the growth and spread of tumors has opened up new possibilities for the development of more effective and personalized cancer treatments. In this review, we will discuss the different CRISPR-based strategies that have been proposed for cancer therapy, including inactivating genes that drive tumor growth, enhancing the immune response to cancer cells, repairing genetic mutations that cause cancer, and delivering cancer-killing molecules directly to tumor cells. We will also summarize the current state of preclinical studies and clinical trials of CRISPR-based cancer therapy, highlighting the most promising results and the challenges that still need to be overcome. Safety and delivery are also important challenges for CRISPR-based cancer therapy to become a viable clinical option. We will discuss the challenges and limitations that need to be overcome, such as off-target effects, safety, and delivery to the tumor site. Finally, we will provide an overview of the current challenges and opportunities in the field of CRISPR-based cancer therapy and discuss future directions for research and development. The CRISPR system has the potential to change the landscape of cancer research, and this review aims to provide an overview of the current state of the field and the challenges that need to be overcome to realize this potential.

Preclinical Anticipation of On- and Off-Target Resistance Mechanisms to Anti-Cancer Drugs: A Systematic Review

The advent of targeted therapies has led to tremendous improvements in treatment options and their outcomes in the field of oncology. Yet, many cancers outsmart precision drugs by developing on-target or off-target resistance mechanisms. Gaining the ability to resist treatment is the rule rather than the exception in tumors, and it remains a major healthcare challenge to achieve long-lasting remission in most cancer patients. Here, we discuss emerging strategies that take advantage of innovative high-throughput screening technologies to anticipate on- and off-target resistance mechanisms before they occur in treated cancer patients. We divide the methods into non-systematic approaches, such as random mutagenesis or long-term drug treatment, and systematic approaches, relying on the clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system, saturated mutagenesis, or computational methods. All these new developments, especially genome-wide CRISPR-based screening platforms, have significantly accelerated the processes for identification of the mechanisms responsible for cancer drug resistance and opened up new avenues for future treatments.

High-throughput CRISPR technology: a novel horizon for solid organ transplantation

Organ transplantation is the gold standard therapy for end-stage organ failure. However, the shortage of available grafts and long-term graft dysfunction remain the primary barriers to organ transplantation. Exploring approaches to solve these issues is urgent, and CRISPR/Cas9-based transcriptome editing provides one potential solution. Furthermore, combining CRISPR/Cas9-based gene editing with an ex vivo organ perfusion system would enable pre-implantation transcriptome editing of grafts. How to determine effective intervention targets becomes a new problem. Fortunately, the advent of high-throughput CRISPR screening has dramatically accelerated the effective targets. This review summarizes the current advancements, utilization, and workflow of CRISPR screening in various immune and non-immune cells. It also discusses the ongoing applications of CRISPR/Cas-based gene editing in transplantation and the prospective applications of CRISPR screening in solid organ transplantation.