Scientists have developed a molecular tool called ThermoCas9 that cuts only cancer cell DNA without damaging healthy cells, according to research published in Nature and conducted by teams from the Van Andel Institute, Florida State University, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Wageningen University, and Imperial College London.
The tool builds on CRISPR technology introduced in 2012, which enabled precise DNA editing but could not distinguish between malignant and healthy genetic material. ThermoCas9 improves on this by selectively targeting tumor DNA, a capability the researchers say could reduce side effects and increase safety in cancer treatment.
How ThermoCas9 achieves selective DNA cutting
ThermoCas9 functions as a programmable dual-RNA-guided DNA endonuclease that identifies and cleaves DNA sequences unique to cancer cells. The system uses a ribonucleoprotein (RNP) particle delivery method, which the study found to be the most efficient for administering the tool to cells, according to Dr. Hong Li of the Van Andel Institute.
Unlike earlier gene editing techniques that added or removed genes without precision, or standard CRISPR that cuts DNA at targeted locations but cannot differentiate healthy from tumoral DNA, ThermoCas9 is designed to act exclusively on malignant cells.
What remains before clinical use
Dr. Hong Li noted that key technical challenges remain, particularly in delivering ThermoCas9 effectively to specific tissues and evaluating its safety, as with any latest technology. The researchers consider the RNP delivery method a strong starting point for exploring real-world clinical applications.
The team emphasizes that further development is needed to translate the laboratory findings into personalized cancer therapies, though the innovation represents a significant step toward treatments that target only diseased cells.
What is ThermoCas9 and how does it differ from CRISPR?
ThermoCas9 is a refined gene-editing tool derived from CRISPR that can distinguish and cut only cancer cell DNA, whereas standard CRISPR lacks this ability to differentiate between healthy and tumoral genetic material.
Who developed ThermoCas9 and where was the research published?
The tool was developed by researchers from the Van Andel Institute, Florida State University, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Wageningen University, and Imperial College London, and the findings were published in the journal Nature.