CRISPR Variant Zeroes In on Tumor DNA

New technique uses methylation differences to selectively target cancer cells

Apr. 16, 2026 at 1:03am

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An abstract painting in muted earth tones, featuring sweeping geometric shapes, concentric circles, and precise botanical spirals, visually representing the complex interplay of methylation patterns and CRISPR gene editing that allows for the selective targeting of cancer cells.A conceptual illustration of the CRISPR-based technique that selectively targets cancer cells by exploiting their distinct methylation patterns.Grand Rapids Today

A team of scientists from Wageningen University & Research and Van Andel Institute have identified a way to exploit the subtle chemical differences between cancer cells and healthy cells. Using a variant of CRISPR called ThermoCas9, they were able to distinguish tumor DNA from healthy DNA and selectively cut only the former, representing an early but promising step toward a cancer therapy that targets and destroys tumor cells with high precision.

Why it matters

Cancer cells are adept at evading detection, but this new CRISPR-based method takes advantage of the altered DNA methylation patterns in tumor cells to precisely target and cut their DNA, potentially leading to more effective and less harmful cancer treatments in the future.

The details

The new method relies on methyl groups, small chemical tags attached to DNA that regulate gene expression. This process, called DNA methylation, is altered in cancer cells and can act as a molecular "fingerprint" that differentiates malignant cells from healthy ones. The team used a CRISPR variant called ThermoCas9, which can distinguish between unmethylated and methylated genes, to selectively cut DNA in tumor cells while leaving healthy DNA intact.

  • The study was published on April 15, 2026 in the journal Nature.

The players

Wageningen University & Research

A Dutch public university and research institution that collaborated on this study.

Van Andel Institute

An independent nonprofit biomedical research and education organization that also collaborated on this study.

John van der Oost, Ph.D.

A researcher at Wageningen University who discovered the ThermoCas9 CRISPR variant used in the study.

Hong Li, Ph.D.

A researcher at Van Andel Institute who analyzed the structure of ThermoCas9 and its ability to distinguish between methylated and unmethylated DNA.

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What they’re saying

“ThermoCas9 is the first CRISPR-associated enzyme to respond to differences in the most abundant type of DNA methylation in human and other eukaryotic cells. This means we now have a system that we can target specifically toward tumor cells.”

— John van der Oost, Researcher, Wageningen University

“ThermoCas9 uses methylation like an address to precisely target cancer cells while leaving healthy cells untouched. The findings could be a game changer.”

— Hong Li, Researcher, Van Andel Institute

What’s next

The next step for the researchers is to demonstrate that the selective DNA cleavage by ThermoCas9 can effectively kill tumor cells, which is a necessary step before the technology can be translated into a potential cancer treatment. The researchers also note that aberrant methylation patterns play a role in many other diseases, so ThermoCas9 or similar CRISPR tools may have broader applications in the future.

The takeaway

This new CRISPR-based method represents an innovative approach to selectively targeting cancer cells by exploiting their distinct molecular signatures, potentially leading to more precise and effective cancer therapies that spare healthy cells. The findings highlight the value of fundamental research in uncovering novel mechanisms that can be applied to address complex medical challenges.