Telomeres are nucleotide caps at the ends of chromosomes that protect genome integrity during replication. Telomerase deregulation can have disease-causing consequences, such as enabling uncontrollable replication of cancer cells. Alternative Lengthening of Telomeres (ALT) is a mechanism of telomere extension occurring in 15% of all cancer types, including osteosarcomas and glioblastomas. Many of these cancers have poor prognosis and lack specialized treatment options. ALT activation is a promising target for cancer therapies, given that the mechanism is specific to tumors and absent in normal tissues.

In this webinar, Dr Shudong Li, a postdoctoral researcher in Dr Simon Boulton’s lab at The Francis Crick Institute in London, will describe the identification of novel ALT regulators and genetic vulnerabilities of ALT cancers using whole-genome CRISPR-knockout (KO) screens that leverage Revvity’s Dharmacon™ Edit-R™ CRISPR libraries. Among the key takeaways for attendees:

1) The use of 2 orthogonal screening approaches (whole genome CRISPR KO screen and targeted telomere proteome screen) to identify genetic vulnerabilities

2) The elucidation of three distinct hit categories that kill ALT+ cells

3) How uncovering new genetic interactions and dependencies of ALT cancers can open opportunities to improve drugs already in the clinic

A live audience Q&A will follow Dr Li’s presentation.