CRISPR/Cas9 Gene Editing: An Approach to Prevent Hereditary Cancers

Mutations in oncogenes and tumor-suppressor genes can give rise to a variety of genetic cancers. The use of CRISPR/Cas9 can be applicable in the prevention of these cancers through the knockout of oncogenes and the upregulation of tumor-suppressor genes. This paper proposes this use of the technology by reviewing previous research and successes of CRISPR in treating genetic diseases and the application of those methods to preventing cancer. CRISPR/Cas9 can alter mutated DNA; in the case of oncogenes, CRISPR/Cas9 would restore the cell’s ability to grow and divide, while it would restore the tumor-suppressor gene’s ability to induce apoptosis. This paper also discusses the limitations of this technology, including off-target effects and the delivery of CRISPR into cells.