Molecular scissors snip at cancer’s Achilles’ heel

CRISPR technology identifies drug targets in malignant cells

A new twist on a DNA-tweaking technology may help scientists hit cancer where it hurts.

Damaging tiny parts of cancer cells’ machinery can pinpoint potential Achilles’ heels, researchers suggest May 11 in Nature Biotechnology. These vulnerable spots may be good places to aim drugs, says study coauthor Christopher Vakoc, a molecular biologist at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory in New York.