Nikhil Rawal, Shruti Batra, Tanu Sharma, Sreeharsha Nagararja, Shailendra Singh, Rajeev Ranjan, Vikas Kumar, Ravi Raj Pal
Gene editing has enormous potential in biomedical fields, including cancer and personalized medicine. CRISPR-Cas9 is a gene-editing system in which the Cas9 enzyme, guided by RNA derived from short palindromic repeats, alters DNA sequences to inhibit oncogenes through base and prime editing, thereby suppressing tumor growth. Despite significant advancements in anticancer therapies, limitations such as off-target effects, ethical concerns, and challenges in targeted delivery restrict its potential clinical applications. In the present review, we explore the mechanisms of CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, recent technological advancements, and prospects for cancer management. We also provide insights into strategies for precise delivery, improved targeting accuracy, and the regulatory considerations surrounding CRISPR-Cas9 for oncological applications. Additionally, this review examines the potential of CRISPR-Cas9 in personalized cancer therapy and discusses approaches to enhance tumor-specific targeting and facilitate clinical translation.