CRISPR opens the door to targeted therapy against glioblastoma (Review)

The progression in molecular understanding of glioblastoma (GBM) enables the identification of key therapeutic targets, allowing the advances of targeted therapy in GBM. However, to date, most clinical trial results have been disappointing. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR) system is a revolutionary genome‑editing tool that has the potential to improve basic research and therapy for GBM. In the present review, the current status and challenges of targeted therapy in GBM are examined. As a potential approach to address the challenges, the development process and application scope of CRISPR are investigated. Furthermore, the application of CRISPR in the study of GBM is explored, mainly by conducting CRISPR screens and employing CRISPR to target genes associated with the malignant phenotype of GBM. Finally, delivery of CRISPR/CRISPR‑associated protein 9 (Cas9) for the treatment of GBM is briefly reviewed.