University of Copenhagen Develops CRISPR-Based Method to Identify Hereditary Cancer Risk Before Symptoms Appear

With an accurate diagnosis, doctors can provide targeted treatment. That’s why it’s good news that researchers at the Biotech Research and Innovation Center and Rigshospitalet have collaborated to develop a method that can determine whether a patient has a genetic mutation that may lead to, among other things, breast cancer. Photo: Adobe

(IN BRIEF) The University of Copenhagen, in collaboration with Rigshospitalet, has introduced a clinically validated gene-editing method to identify harmful inherited mutations that raise cancer risk. Developed at the university’s Biotech Research and Innovation Center, the CRISPR-Select technique allows scientists to determine the impact of previously unclassified BRCA2 variants. This breakthrough enables earlier diagnosis and more precise treatment, and the findings have been added to global databases to support healthcare professionals worldwide. With successful hospital testing, this method represents a major step forward in hereditary cancer prevention and personalized care.

(PRESS RELEASE) COPENHAGEN, 19-Jun-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A groundbreaking gene-editing approach pioneered by researchers at Rigshospitalet and the University of Copenhagen is set to transform the way hereditary cancer risks are identified—potentially saving lives through earlier and more precise diagnoses. The new method allows clinicians to determine whether a person carries a harmful genetic mutation before any signs of cancer have developed, enabling preventive intervention or more effective treatment.

This promising development stems from a collaboration between the Biotech Research and Innovation Center (BRIC) and Rigshospitalet’s Department of Genomic Medicine. The research team, led by Maria Rossing—Clinical Research Associate Professor at the University of Copenhagen and Chief Physician at Rigshospitalet—has tested and confirmed the method’s clinical viability, focusing especially on mutations in the BRCA2 gene. Mutations in BRCA2 are associated with a heightened risk of several cancers, notably breast and ovarian cancer.

“If we can determine early on whether someone carries a disease-causing mutation, we can act preventively or treat them with much greater precision,” says Rossing. “This represents a significant step forward in personalized cancer care.”

Although many patients are currently screened for BRCA2 mutations, a considerable number receive inconclusive results—so-called “variants of unknown significance.” These ambiguous findings have long frustrated both patients and doctors, making it difficult to assess cancer risk or determine an effective course of action.

The new approach, however, changes that. Researchers have analyzed 54 BRCA2 gene variants and determined whether each one is pathogenic or benign, eliminating the guesswork in many cases. The method uses a powerful gene-editing technology called CRISPR-Select, developed at BRIC, to simulate the effects of each mutation in cell models. These models are then treated with specific chemotherapy agents, and the results are analyzed according to up-to-date international classification guidelines.

These findings are being uploaded to global genetic databases, allowing doctors and researchers worldwide to access definitive classifications for these 54 BRCA2 variants.

“Our classifications are now available in international resources,” explains Rossing. “This means that a physician in another country can check a patient’s mutation and immediately understand whether it’s considered dangerous. This is not just a benefit for Danish patients—it’s a global advancement.”

Although the method is not yet standard practice, its successful testing in a clinical environment at Rigshospitalet marks a critical step toward broader implementation. Rossing and her team are optimistic that widespread adoption of this tool could lead to earlier diagnoses, tailored treatments, and ultimately, better outcomes for patients across the globe.

Read the study here.

Media Contacts:

Maria Rossing
Clinical Research Associate Professor, Department of Clinical Medicine
Email: caroline.maria.rossing@regionh.dk
M: +45 23 60 46 78

Claus S. Sørensen
Professor, BRIC
Mail: claus.storgaard@bric.ku.dk

Anna Ahlbom
UCPH Communications
Email: anna.ahlbom@adm.ku.dk
M: +45 93 56 50 26

SOURCE: University of Copenhagen