Genetic engineering in oncology based on CRISPR-Cas9 technology

Purpose of the study : analysis of modern scientific data on the molecular mechanisms of the CRISPR-Cas9 system in gene editing, advantages and disadvantages in cancer research and the development of new treatment methods. Material and Methods . A comprehensive electronic search of relevant published studies was conducted in the scientific databases PubMed/MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Wiley and Google Scholar published between 2014 and 2024. The search was tailored to the specific requirements of each database based on the following keywords: CRISPR-Cas9, sgRNA, genome editing, cancer immunotherapy, CAR-T. The search yielded 487 studies on the topic of interest, of which 54 were used to write the literature review. Additionally, the article discretely highlights the importance and challenges of CRISPR-Cas9 in the production of genetically engineered T cells for potential use in treating certain types of cancer. Results . Accordingly, CAR-T (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell) therapy is widely used as one of the main components of immunotherapy in the treatment of leukemia, lymphoma and some solid tumors. The development of programmed single guide RNAs (sgRNAs) and new modifications of the Cas9 protein has made the technology flexible and universal. CRISPR-Cas9 is often used to modify T and NK cells by designing antigen receptors to improve their sensory circuits with complex functionality capable of recognizing and killing tumor cells. At the same time, delivery of the finished ribonucleoprotein (Cas9+sgRNA) complex into the cell avoids the constitutive processes of transcription and translation, which ensures the fastest possible gene editing. Conclusion . In this review, we reviewed the scientific evidence highlighting the promising impact of CRISPR technologies in cancer research and treatment. CRISPR-Cas9 is considered a unique and effective technology in the field of genetic and biomolecular engineering.