CRISPR Enables Cancer Immunotherapy Drug Discovery | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

CRISPR Enables Cancer Immunotherapy Drug Discovery | Dana-Farber Cancer Institute

CRISPR Enables Cancer Immunotherapy Drug Discovery

Published: November 30, 2017

These cancer cells (colored shapes) each have a different gene deleted through CRISPR-Cas9 technology. In a novel genetic screening approach, the T cells (red) destroy those cancer cells that have lost genes essential for evading immune attack, revealing potential drug targets for enhancing PD-1-checkpoint-based cancer immunotherapy. Credit: Haining Lab

This originally appeared on Vector, Boston Children’s Hospital’s blog.

A novel screening method using CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology has revealed new drug targets that could potentially enhance the effectiveness of PD-1 checkpoint inhibitors, a promising new class of cancer immunotherapy.