Using Gene Editing to Fight Cancer

Post date: Aug 8, 2016 1:14:01 AM

Nature announces that a Chinese team will be the first to use CRISPR gene-editing of human cells to treat cancer. The team will extract the patient's own T cells, edit them to block the natural PD-1 checkpoint, and reintroduce them into the patient. The goal is for these new edited T cells to become uninhibited in attacking the cancer cells. The concern is that these hyper-powered cells may then turn on the bodies own tissues, leading to autoimmunity.

Obviously, therapies like this are the shining hope of gene-editing technology: I just hope that the Chinese team is not rushing in!