4 ms·

> What are the biggest risks with CRISPR? So far, that using it causes cancer.

by ebg13 7y ago

vikramkr 7y ago
I don't recall a clear causal link being drawn beyond some favoring off cells with inhibitions in apoptotic pathways being more likely to successfully undergo crispr knockout- certainly a risk but nothing like what you're suggesting with that strong statement. Can you elaborate on your point? I'd love to learn if there was any more research into that, it's an important question for sure.
- ebg13 7y ago
  There may be two different interpretations of "risks" in use here. If your mechanism both causes swathes of unexpected damage and also (because of, perhaps) favors cells with defective p53, certainly there is a reasonable until-it-improves risk of causing cancer.
- aaavl2821 7y ago
  Here's fairly approachable summary of some of the risks: https://www.synthego.com/blog/crispr-cancer-research-studies https://www.synthego.com/blog/crispr-cancer-research-studies This discusses a few papers showing that CRISRP-Cas9 can cause "off target" mutations in a tumor suppressor gene called p53. If these mutations render p53 non functional it is possible that these cells can become cancerous That is one of the specific risks identified although there are in theory other risks
  - LordDragonfang 7y ago
    Several people elsewhere in the thread are discussing the possibility of bioweapons engineered to target specific ethnicities. Wouldn't it be just as feasible to create something similar that would specifically attack cells with a mutated p53?
  - vikramkr 7y ago
    I dont think the cas9 is causing the off target mutations according to those papers, it's more potentially selecting for cells with already dysfunctional p53 in those few cell lines by inducing a p53 mediated dna damage response. It's in cells that arent going to go near humans and are pretty different in form and function than those used in trials, and while it's a risk to consider (not trying to downplay potential risks here- all new medicine and biology must be thoroughly evaluated for safety and risk), it's nowhere near a show-stopping demonstration that CAS9 mediated editing causes cancer and hasn't stopped clinical trials from moving forward
    - aaavl2821 7y ago
      Thanks for the correction, I was thinking of potential for off target edits that lead to cancer but you are right, that's the wrong article for discussion of off target
oarabbus_ 7y ago
Source?

> What are the biggest risks with CRISPR? So far, that using it causes cancer.

by ebg13 7y ago

> What are the biggest risks with CRISPR? So far, that using it causes cancer.

I don't recall a clear causal link being drawn beyond some favoring off cells with inhibitions in apoptotic pathways being more likely to successfully undergo crispr knockout- certainly a risk but nothing like what you're suggesting with that strong statement. Can you elaborate on your point? I'd love to learn if there was any more research into that, it's an important question for sure.

ebg13 7y ago
There may be two different interpretations of "risks" in use here. If your mechanism both causes swathes of unexpected damage and also (because of, perhaps) favors cells with defective p53, certainly there is a reasonable until-it-improves risk of causing cancer.
aaavl2821 7y ago
Here's fairly approachable summary of some of the risks: https://www.synthego.com/blog/crispr-cancer-research-studies https://www.synthego.com/blog/crispr-cancer-research-studies This discusses a few papers showing that CRISRP-Cas9 can cause "off target" mutations in a tumor suppressor gene called p53. If these mutations render p53 non functional it is possible that these cells can become cancerous That is one of the specific risks identified although there are in theory other risks
- LordDragonfang 7y ago
  Several people elsewhere in the thread are discussing the possibility of bioweapons engineered to target specific ethnicities. Wouldn't it be just as feasible to create something similar that would specifically attack cells with a mutated p53?
- vikramkr 7y ago
  I dont think the cas9 is causing the off target mutations according to those papers, it's more potentially selecting for cells with already dysfunctional p53 in those few cell lines by inducing a p53 mediated dna damage response. It's in cells that arent going to go near humans and are pretty different in form and function than those used in trials, and while it's a risk to consider (not trying to downplay potential risks here- all new medicine and biology must be thoroughly evaluated for safety and risk), it's nowhere near a show-stopping demonstration that CAS9 mediated editing causes cancer and hasn't stopped clinical trials from moving forward
  - aaavl2821 7y ago
    Thanks for the correction, I was thinking of potential for off target edits that lead to cancer but you are right, that's the wrong article for discussion of off target

oarabbus_ 7y ago

Source?