CRISPR-Cas12 in immunotherapy and Beyond: Advances and challenges

• CRISPR-Cas12 enables exact gene editing with minimized off-target effects. • Cas12 technologies accelerate innovative immunotherapies and personalized cancer treatments. • Novel Cas12-based diagnostics offer rapid, sensitive detection of diseases and mutations. • Advanced CRISPR-Cas12 tools improve gene therapy delivery and patient safety. • Cost-effective CRISPR-Cas12 methods transform disease prevention and clinical diagnostics. CRISPR-Cas12 technology has greatly advanced gene editing, offering high efficiency and accuracy. Its main applications include gene modification, disease diagnosis, and especially the development of personalized cancer therapies. CRISPR-Cas12 enhances CAR-T cell therapies, allowing immune cells to target cancer more effectively. The technology also enables precise DNA sequence changes, supporting tailored treatments based on individual tumor genetics. Importantly, CRISPR-Cas12 reduces off-target effects, improving the safety and reliability of gene therapies in clinical settings. Additionally, strategies to overcome the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, such as modulating regulatory T cells or engineering resistance to their inhibitory signals, are emphasized. However, challenges remain, including concerns about long-term safety, delivery methods, and ethical issues related to genetic modification. Despite these hurdles, CRISPR-Cas12 offers significant potential as a safe and transformative tool for innovative immunotherapies, promising more effective cancer treatments and better patient outcomes.