CRISPR-Cas9-based Strategies for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia Therapy

Abstract

Defeating cancer as leukemia has been an up and down challenge. However, leukemia must be treated from the roots. Nowadays, the CRISPR-Cas9 system provided scientists the ability to manipulate the genetic information to correct mutations, rewrite genetic code, or edit immune cells for immunotherapy purposes. Additionally, such system is used for basic and clinical approaches in leukemia therapy. Lymphoid cancers including acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) can be treated by performing gene editing or enhancing immune system through CART cells. Here, we present and detail therapeutic applications of the CRISPR/Cas9 system for immune cell therapy, and knock-out or knock-in of main genes promoting leukemogenesis or ALL progression. We also described current and future challenges, and optimization for the application of CRISPR/Cas9 system to treat lymphoid malignancies.