Cancer Cells Engineered with CRISPR Slay Their Own Kin
Published:25 Jul.2018 Source:Science News
Using gene editing, scientists have hoodwinked tumor cells into turning against their own kind. Cancer cells circulating in the bloodstream have something of a homing instinct, able to find and return to the tumor where they originated.
To capitalize on the ability, researchers engineered these roving tumor cells to secrete a protein that triggers a death switch in resident tumor cells they encounter. The cancer-fighting cancer cells also have a built-in suicide switch-so the weaponized cells self-destruct before they can start tumors of their own.