CRISPR may explain why so many experimental cancer drugs fail

CRISPR may explain why so many experimental cancer drugs fail

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By Sally Robertson, B.Sc.Sep 13 2019Reviewed by Kate Anderton, B.Sc. (Editor)

Researchers in the United States have discovered that many experimental cancer drugs may be missing their molecular targets and are instead succeeding in unintended ways, some of which could have toxic effects.

Using the gene-editing tool CRISPR–Cas9 to investigate how ten cancer drugs interact with their protein target, the researchers found that the proteins are not actually essential to the survival of malignant cells. Seven of drugs the team investigated are currently being tested in clinical trials.