A Review on Screen, Shield, Stop: Halting Hereditary Cancer through Genomic Surveillance and Crispr – Cas9

Abstract

Hereditary cancers account for approximately 5–10% of all cancer cases and arise due to inherited pathogenic variants in cancer susceptibility genes. Advances in genomic medicine have transformed the early identification of individuals at high risk, enabling timely surveillance, preventive interventions, and personalized treatment strategies. Genomic surveillance integrates molecular diagnostic technologies such as whole genome sequencing (WGS), whole exome sequencing (WES), targeted multigene panel testing, and bioinformatics to identify inherited mutations before the onset of clinical disease. Early detection of pathogenic variants in genes including BRCA1, BRCA2, TP53, APC, PTEN, and DNA mismatch repair genes has significantly improved cancer prevention and patient outcomes. The emergence of CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing has further expanded opportunities for precision oncology by enabling targeted correction or disruption of disease-causing genetic variants, CRISPR-based technologies have demonstrated considerable potential in functional genomics, therapeutic target discovery, and personalized cancer treatment. This review summarizes the current understanding of hereditary cancer genetics, genomic surveillance strategies, sequencing technologies, CRISPR-Cas9 applications, precision oncology, and future developments in cancer prevention. It also discusses the clinical benefits, limitations, ethical considerations, and emerging innovations that are shaping the future of hereditary cancer management