Swiss researchers identify gene variants linked to cancer progression

ETH researchers investigate cancer mutations in the genome Keystone-SDA

Researchers at the federal technology institute ETH Zurich have investigated how genetic mutations impact cell function. By employing two CRISPR/Cas techniques, they assessed the importance of these mutations in cancer development and treatment.

Researchers at the Department of Biosystems Science and Engineering at ETH Zurich in Basel modified a gene in two human cell lines in over 50,000 different ways.

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This allowed them to create a vast array of cell variants, which they then tested for functionality. They focused on a gene crucial to the development of various types of cancer, including lung, brain and breast cancer.

To generate such a vast number of gene variants, the researchers combined two CRISPR/Cas methods, ETH Zurich announced on Tuesday. Base editing allows for easy and reliable modification of individual DNA building blocks, while prime editing enables precise alterations to specific gene segments.

According to ETH Zurich, the researchers identified and described the significance of ten gene variants that previously had an unclear impact on cancer development.

These variants either contribute to cancer progression or make it resistant to certain drugs. The research team also discovered a new mechanism by which a mutation in the investigated gene can cause cancer and identified six new, relevant gene variants involved in cancer.

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Cell pools with different gene variants are crucial for research. Oncologists are increasingly examining the genetic information of patients’ tumour cells. This data offers insights into which drugs might be effective for each individual patient, the report continued.

Translated from German by DeepL/sp

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