A Review on Future Directions and Emerging Technologies in Cancer Gene Therapy

Although cancer remains one of the foremost causes of human death worldwide, the traditional therapies available in the field, of which chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery are but a few examples, usually manifest limited efficacy and high toxicity, while the development of resistance often renders them ineffective. One such hope in cancer therapy is the field of gene therapy targeted toward either switching off or correcting the genetic abnormality responsible for the advancement of cancer. In the past few decades, the field has experienced major advancements in gene-editing technologies, newer delivery systems, and immunogene therapy. This review provides detailed insight into current advances in cancer gene therapy and its future potentials while underlining freshly emerging technologies such as CRISPR-Cas gene editing, RNA-based medicine (siRNA, mRNA, and miRNA), and the second generation of CAR-T cell therapy. Non-viral gene delivery strategies, such as nanoparticles, liposomes, and extracellular vesicles, are put forward as safer and more effective solutions than viral vectors. Further, applications of AI and computational biology in gene therapy are described, emphasizing on improving gene-editing accuracy, prediction of therapeutic outcomes, and personalizing cancer treatment. Synthetic biology approaches such as engineered gene circuits and programmable gene switches are being targeted for their ability to increase therapeutic specificity and safety. However, even with these prospects, challenges including off-target effects, immunogenicity, scale-up, regulatory barriers, and various other ethical issues remain. This review thus reveals the fast pace that is characteristic for cancer gene therapy along with the opportunities and challenges ahead. This improves massively the future of cancer gene therapy when all present-day challenges are tackled with the help of cutting-edge technologies to better improve the outcome of patients with more accurate, long-lasting, and less invasive therapeutic interventions.