Progresses, Challenges, and Prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 Gene-Editing in Glioma Studies

Abstract

Glioma refers to a tumor that is derived from brain glial stem cells or progenitor cells and is the most common primary intracranial tumor. Due to its complex cellular components, as well as the aggressiveness and specificity of the pathogenic site of glioma, most patients with malignant glioma have poor prognoses following surgeries, radiotherapies, and chemotherapies. In recent years, an increasing amount of research has focused on the use of CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology in the treatment of glioma. As an emerging gene-editing technology, CRISPR/Cas9 utilizes the expression of certain functional proteins to repair tissues or treat gene-deficient diseases and could be applied to immunotherapies through the expression of antigens, antibodies, or receptors. In addition, some research also utilized CRISPR/Cas9 to establish tumor models so as to study tumor pathogenesis and screen tumor prognostic targets. This paper mainly discusses the roles of CRISPR/Cas9 in the treatment of glioma patients, the exploration of the pathogenesis of neuroglioma, and the screening targets for clinical prognosis. This paper also raises the future research prospects of CRISPR/Cas9 in glioma, as well as the opportunities and challenges that it will face in clinical treatment in the future.

CRISPR/Cas9-Mediated Gene Therapy for Glioblastoma: A Scoping Review

“…Distinctive genetic polymorphisms, ionizing radiation exposure, and the impact of chemical carcinogens on brain cells are among the key pathogenic factors driving the development of GBM [46]. Current research is honing in on the promising potential of CRISPR/Cas9 as a cutting-edge gene-editing technology in the realm of immunotherapy for GBM.…”

“…Since 2015, numerous clinical studies have explored the CRISPR/Cas9 system for gene editing, showcasing promising progress in its application for GBM patients [46]. However, persistent challenges remain, with the primary impediment being the substantial size of the Cas9 nuclease, hindering efficient delivery.…”

ZnO nanomaterials target mitochondrial apoptosis and mitochondrial autophagy pathways in cancer cells

“…Following caspase‐9, other caspases like caspase‐3, caspase‐6, and caspase‐7, known as executioner caspases, get activated, ultimately leading to cell apoptosis (Figure 3). 89–93 …”

Revolutionizing Brain Tumor Care: Emerging Technologies and Strategies

“…CRISPR/Cas9 has emerged as a promising tool for exploring new avenues for the treatment of brain tumors. This revolutionary gene-editing technology offers precision and efficiency in targeting specific genes associated with tumor growth, making it a potentially transformative approach in oncology [ 186 , 187 ]. For example, researchers can use CRISPR/Cas to disrupt genes responsible for promoting cell proliferation or inhibiting apoptosis, thereby slowing down tumor growth and enhancing the effectiveness of traditional therapies like chemotherapy and radiation [ 186 , 188 ].…”