Cancer genomes carry mutations that normal cells do not. We use these differences as targets: CRISPR nucleases guided to cancer-specific sequences can cut and kill cancer cells while sparing normal cells.
What we study
- Targeting cancer-specific mutations. We showed that CRISPR-Cas9 guided to cancer-specific insertion/deletion (InDel) mutations can precisely eliminate tumor cells. Multiplexed Cas9 nickases combined with PARP inhibitors make this strategy more efficient and precise.
- Cancer genomics and DNA damage. Genome analysis of patient-derived tumor models and studies of the DNA damage response identify vulnerabilities to target.
- Cell state and cell death. Single-cell phenotyping of how cells respond to damage and undergo cell death.
- Patient-derived models. Bioprinted patient-derived organoids and tissue-derived matrices let us test therapies in models that capture features of each patient’s tumor.
Selected publications
Leading studies
- Jeong H#, Moon HE, Yun S, Cho SW, Park HR, Park SH, Myung K, Kwon T*, Paek SH*. (2023) Enrichment of Deleterious Mutated Genes Involved in Ciliary Function and Histone Modification in Brain Cancer Patient-Derived Xenograft Models. , Biomedicines., 11(11):2934. PMID:38001935 doi:10.3390/biomedicines11112934.
- Jeong H#, Wie M#, Baek IJ, Sohn G, Um SH, Lee SG, Seo Y, Ra J, Lee EA, Kim S, Kim BG, Deshpande RA, Paull TT, Han JS, Kwon T*, Myung K*. (2022) TRIP13 Participates in Immediate-Early Sensing of DNA Strand Breaks and ATM Signaling Amplification through MRE11. , Cells, 11(24):4095 PMID:36552858 doi:10.3390/cells11244095
- Kwon T#*, Ra JS#, Lee S#, Baek I-J#, Khim KW, Lee EA, Song EK, Otarbayev D, Jung W, Park YH, Wie M, Bae J, Cheng H, Park JH, Kim N, Seo Y, Yun S, Kim HE, Moon HE, Paek SH, Park TJ, Park YU, Rhee H, Choi JH, Cho SW*, Myung K* (2022) Precision targeting tumor cells using cancer-specific InDel mutations with CRISPR-Cas9 , Proc Natl Acad Sci USA, 19(9):e2103532119 PMID:35217600 doi:10.1073/pnas.2103532119
Collaborative works
- Yoon H, Kim D, Jeong HJ, Han H, Kim SJ, Jang J, Jung DB, Myung SJ, Yu CS, Song IH, Choi JH, Corces MR, Kwon T, Myung K, Joo J, Kang JH, Park TE, Cho SW. (2026) Tissue-derived extracellular matrix hydrogels instruct epigenetic adaptation in metastatic colonization. , Bioact Mater., 67:757-773. PMID:42699228 doi:10.1016/j.bioactmat.2026.08.031
- Lee S, Kim K, Jeong HJ, Choi S, Cheng H, Kim D, Heo S, Mun J, Kim M, Lee E, Choi YJ, Lee SG, Lee EA, Jang Y, Lim K, Kim HS, Jeong E, Myung SJ, Jung DB, Yu CS, Song IH, Corces MR, Kang JH, Myung K, Kwon T, Park TE, Joo J, Cho SW. (2025) Combining Multiplexed CRISPR/Cas9-Nickase and PARP Inhibitors Efficiently and Precisely Targets Cancer Cells. , Cancer Res., 85(15):2890-2904. PMID:40327605 doi:10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-24-2938
- Han J, Jeong HJ, Choi J, Kim H, Kwon T, Myung K, Park K, Park JI, Sánchez S, Jung DB, Yu CS, Song IH, Shim JH, Myung SJ, Kang HW, Park TE. (2025) Bioprinted Patient-Derived Organoid Arrays Capture Intrinsic and Extrinsic Tumor Features for Advanced Personalized Medicine. , Adv Sci (Weinh)., 12(20):e2407871. PMID:40151904 doi:10.1002/advs.202407871
- Hong J, Kwon KY, Jang DG, Kwon T, Yoon H, Park TJ. (2024) Mebendazole preferentially inhibits cilia formation and exerts anticancer activity by synergistically augmenting DNA damage. , Biomed Pharmacother., 174:116434. PMID:38513592 doi:10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116434.