CRISPR Restores MHC-1 in Prostate Cancer, Boosting Immunotherapy in Mice
Updated
Updated · ScienceDaily · Jul 26
CRISPR Restores MHC-1 in Prostate Cancer, Boosting Immunotherapy in Mice
1 articles · Updated · ScienceDaily · Jul 26
Summary
A CRISPR-Cas13 RNA tool made prostate tumors in mice respond far better to immune checkpoint therapy by restoring the MHC-1 signal that helps T cells detect cancer cells.
Researchers traced the resistance mechanism to shortened SPSB1 mRNA: the shorter transcript produces more SPSB1 protein, which destroys MHC-1 and leaves prostate tumors "immune cold."
By forcing SPSB1 mRNA back to its normal longer length—without cutting the RNA—the treatment lowered SPSB1 levels, drew more immune cells into tumors and showed no detectable off-target effects.
The preclinical study, published in Nature Biomedical Engineering, is the first to show therapeutic benefit from re-lengthening mRNA and will next be tested in pancreatic cancer and other immune-cold tumors.