CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing in gastric cancer: Mechanisms, advances, and therapeutic potential

Gastric cancer (GC) remains one of the leading causes of cancer-related mortality worldwide, necessitating innovative approaches for its diagnosis and treatment. Clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9 (Cas9), a revolutionary gene-editing technology, has emerged as a powerful tool for unraveling the molecular mechanisms underlying GC and for advancing precision medicine strategies. This review explores the current applications of CRISPR/Cas9 in GC research, including the identification of oncogenes and tumor suppressors, modeling tumor microenvironment interactions, and developing gene-based therapies. We highlight recent breakthroughs in genome editing that have enhanced our understanding of GC pathogenesis and resistance mechanisms to conventional therapies. Additionally, we discuss the potential of CRISPR/Cas9 for therapeutic gene editing in GC, addressing challenges such as off-target effects, delivery methods, and ethical considerations. By summarizing the progress and limitations of CRISPR/Cas9 in GC, this review aims to provide a comprehensive perspective on how this transformative technology could shape future strategies for the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of GC.