First Human Trial of CRISPR-Cas9 System Raises Hope for Cancer Cure

Highlights:

Research team have identified a method of treating a cancer patient by silencing genes that code for a protein called PD-1 using the CRISPR-Cas9 system.
The trial was conducted to identify safety and has been successful thus far. The trial will extend to 10 patients who will be reviewed after 6 months to understand the effects.
A similar trial was proposed by a group of researchers from the U.S in June, creating a race between China and the U.S for CRISPR-Cas9 system use in human trials.

Genetically edited cells, that used the CRISPR-Cas9 system, were injected into a patient with a highly virulent type of lung cancer. This is the first time that this system has been used on humans and it is also hoped that this method could soon be used on patients with other types of cancer who fail to respond to chemotherapy, radiation or other forms of therapy.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system was one of the most sensational breakthroughs of 2015 and this gene editing tool was meant to aid in a host of disease conditions that involve genetic mutations. Its use in mainstream medicine may not be too far away, as reported by this recent study on the use of CRISPR cas9 system on a cancer patient.

The Breakthrough of 2015 - CRISPR
CRISPR is a gene editing tool that is revolutionizing medical care with prospective cure for genetic diseases like cancer, diabetes, DMD, eye diseases, obesity.

‘CRISPR-Cas9 system raises fresh hope of cancer cure after first human trial.’

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CRISPR-Cas 9 System:

This is a gene editing tool that lets researchers edit genes. It was first discovered by U.S scientist Jeniffer Doudna which led her to win the breakthrough award for 2015.

This editing tool has risen in importance and scientists from China and the U.S have been trying hard to get it into mainstream medicine, where the tools can be used to help develop a cure for genetic diseases.

CRISPR System Provide Immunity & Raise Hopes for a Better Cure for AIDS
T-cells that are attacked by HIV can now be made immune using the CRISPR/Cas 9 system, raising hopes for a better cure for AIDS.

Chinese Researchers Lead First Ever Human Trial

Sichuan University’s Lu You isolated the immune cells from the blood of a lung cancer patient. Immune cells express a protein called PD-1 that is a turn off switch to protect the other cells in the body. The CRISPR Cas 9 editing tool was used to disable this protein so that immune cells can mediate an attack on the cancerous cells.

New Technique to Boost CRISPR-Cas9 Efficiency
Gene editing can be made more efficient by introducing into the cell short pieces of DNA that do not match any DNA sequences in the human genome.

The patient under study is responding well to the treatment and a second injection may be administered. Ten other patients may be selected for the study and followed up for a period of 6 months and more to assess the safety of the trial.

Study By U.S Scientists

CRISPR Technique Offers Precise Blindness Therapy by Repairing Stem Cells
Correcting a blindness-causing gene mutation in patient-derived stem cells using CRISPR/cas9 technique may help in personalized therapies for retinal diseases.

A similar research project of about 250 million$ is being funded by Sean Parker’s New Cancer Institute and will be carried out at The University of Pennsylvania. This study that was proposed in June was approved by the National Institute of Health but approval from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is still pending.

This has raged a biomedical battle between China and U.S in discovering mechanisms by which the CRISPR-Cas9 system can be safely used to treat cancer and other life-threatening conditions in humans.

Though this method of treating cancers is expected to bring in laurels for the research group that helps devise a meaningful and safe method, Chinese researchers have put their foot forward first. The regulatory authorities in the U.S have more stringent rules and the first step in the U.S trial is aimed at safety rather than providing answers about its efficacy.

Advantages of the CRISPR-Cas9 System

Unlike other editing methods, CRISPR-Cas9 system relies on enzymes that are aimed at removing the target genes.
In the current model studied by the Chinese researchers, genetically edited cells were injected into humans and the disease brought under control. Though this study focused on treatment for cancers that are difficult to treat, it may soon be used for all types of cancers.
The system can be used to change the root cause of the disease i.e the genetic mutation that resulted in the disease.

Disadvantages of the System

The gene editing could take place in regions that are not the target regions, resulting in new mutations that could lead to cancer.
A previous study on human embryos showed that out of 86 embryos tested
1. Two-third had genetic mutation
2. 26 embryos only had the desired mutation

Despite the drawbacks associated with using this gene editing tool, it still holds a lot of promise in treating various diseases.

CRISPR-Cas9 System will be used by Editas Technology to treat gene-related blindness in humans.
University of Stanford researchers plan to use the CRISPR-Cas9 system to treat genetic mutations that lead to sickle cell anemia.

The CRISPR-Cas9 system holds a lot of promise in treating genetic disease conditions in humans and the first signs have already begun pouring in.

Reference:

First human treated with CRISPR gene-edited cells in China, report says - (http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/first-human-treated-crispr-gene-edited-cells/)

Source-Medindia