Gene-editing therapy shows promise against advanced colorectal cancer

New Delhi: A recent study has revealed promising results for using CRISPR/Cas9 gene-editing technology to treat advanced colorectal cancer. This clinical trial, the first to test this innovative treatment in humans, showed that genetic modification of immune cells could halt cancer growth in some patients. The findings, published in The Lancet Oncology, offer hope for patients with metastatic gastrointestinal (GI) cancers, a group of cancers that have traditionally been difficult to treat.

In the study, researchers employed CRISPR/Cas9 to modify tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), a type of immune cell that plays a role in fighting cancer. The researchers focused on deactivating a gene called CISH, which had been blocking TILs from effectively recognizing and attacking cancer cells. By disabling this gene, the TILs were able to better target and eliminate tumors.

Dr. Emil Lou, a gastrointestinal oncologist at the University of Minnesota, explained that despite advances in understanding cancer, stage IV colorectal cancer remains largely incurable. The trial’s findings are significant because CISH has been identified as a key factor that prevents T cells from attacking tumors. Traditional methods couldn’t block this gene, but CRISPR-based genetic engineering successfully did so.

The trial involved 12 patients with advanced, metastatic cancer. The modified TILs were generally safe, with no serious side effects observed. In fact, some patients saw their cancer growth stop entirely, while one patient experienced a complete response. This patient’s metastatic tumor disappeared and has not returned for over two years, a remarkable result for such late-stage cancer.

Unlike other cancer therapies that require ongoing treatments, the CRISPR-based therapy offers a permanent solution, as the genetic modifications are built directly into the T cells. However, the researchers note that the process remains costly and complex, and further studies are needed to understand why the therapy worked so effectively. Still, the results bring hope for improving outcomes in patients with late-stage cancers.