#South Korea #Seoul #Korea University #CRISPR #MUTE-Seq

Revolutionary Innovation in Cancer Detection

Korea University researchers have pioneered a new method called MUTE-Seq, which utilizes cutting-edge liquid biopsy technology to detect cancer mutations at incredibly low frequencies. This method is a significant evolution in the ongoing quest to enhance early detection and monitoring of cancer, particularly through the use of a highly refined CRISPR enzyme, known as FnCas9-AF2. This innovation has been designed to identify single-base mismatches with remarkable precision, making it a game changer in the medical field.

Understanding MUTE-Seq

Liquid biopsy has become a vital tool in the oncology landscape, primarily due to its ability to analyze DNA from the blood to monitor cancer's progression or remission. Traditionally, the challenge has been the exceedingly low levels of tumor-derived DNA circulating in the bloodstream, which often limit the effectiveness of such tests. MUTE-Seq addresses this limitation by employing a sophisticated approach to enhance the accuracy of detecting mutations.

The key feature of MUTE-Seq is the employment of FnCas9-AF2, an engineered CRISPR enzyme that showcases near-zero off-target activity. This ability enables the enzyme to selectively cut wild-type DNA, resulting in a significant amplification of true mutant signals that can be detected at even low levels, as low as approximately 0.005% Variant Allele Frequency (VAF). This remarkable improvement allows for more effective monitoring of minimal residual disease (MRD) and early-stage cancer detection without incurring the high costs associated with ultra-deep sequencing.

Impact on Cancer Detection

The implications of MUTE-Seq for cancer care are vast. By using this innovative technology, researchers, led by Professor Junseok W. Hur from Korea University College of Medicine, are demonstrating how MUTE-Seq can enhance the precision of liquid biopsies. In various tests, including comparisons with Sanger and next-generation sequencing, the effectiveness of MUTE-Seq has been highlighted, with the technique boosting variant allele frequencies by up to tenfold.

For example, in studies involving patients with acute myeloid leukemia, MUTE-Seq was able to identify minimal residual disease by amplifying weak signals from NRAS mutations that would typically remain undetected. The technique's advantage was further exhibited in trials involving patients with non-small cell lung cancer and pancreatic cancer.

Validation using cell-free DNA reference materials has indicated a significant improvement in sensitivity, reporting enhancements ranging from 20 to 60 times. This remarkable capacity for detection could potentially transform daily clinical practices, allowing for timely interventions based on the precise tracking of tumor genetics.

Future Prospects

As Professor Hur articulates,