Synergistic strategies for glioblastoma treatment: CRISPR-based multigene editing combined with immune checkpoint blockade.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a primary brain tumor known for its high levels of aggressiveness and resistance to current treatments such as radiotherapy and chemotherapy. As a result, there is a pressing need for innovative therapeutic approaches to combat GBM. Thus, we have developed an engineered multifunctional extracellular vesicle (EV) delivery system that offers an "all-in-one" strategy for GBM therapy. Our approach involved the use of genetic engineering to the long-lasting production of PD-1 and the brain-specific peptide angiopep-2 on the surface of EVs. These modified EVs were then utilized to rejuvenate exhausted CD8⁺ T cells blocking PD-L1, resulting in significant therapeutic benefits for GBM treatment. Furthermore, the EVs contained Cas9 protein and sgRNA for precise and minimally invasive gene therapy, which addressing the key barriers associated with in vivo CRISPR‒Cas9 gene editing treatment. The multigene editing of EVs resulted in efficient intratumor multisite gene editing (PLK1: 58.6%, VEGF: 52.7%), leading to the successful apoptosis of tumor cells in vivo and demonstrating an antiangiogenic effect. This research introduces a promising universal platform for combining immune checkpoint blockade therapy with gene editing treatment.