CRISPR-Barcoding for Intratumor Genetic Heterogeneity Modeling and Functional Analysis of Oncogenic Driver Mutations

International audienceIntratumor genetic heterogeneity underlies the abilityof tumors to evolve and adapt to different environmental conditions. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technologyand specific DNA barcodes, we devised a strategyto recapitulate and trace the emergence of subpopulations of cancer cells containing a mutation ofinterest. We used this approach to model differentmechanisms of lung cancer cell resistance to EGFRinhibitors and to assess effects of combined drugtherapies. By overcoming intrinsic limitations of current approaches, CRISPR-barcoding also enablesinvestigation of most types of genetic modifications,including repair of oncogenic driver mutations.Finally, we used highly complex barcodes insertedat a specific genome location as a means of simultaneously tracing the fates of many thousands ofgenetically labeled cancer cells. CRISPR-barcodingis a straightforward and highly flexible method thatshould greatly facilitate the functional investigation ofspecific mutations, in a context that closely mimicsthe complexity of cancer