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A gene-editing system, switched on by the caffeine in coffee, chocolate, or cola soda, could one day activate powerful therapies against cancer or diabetes.

Cancer and translational medicine biologists at Texas A&M engineered cells so that about 20 mg of caffeine, roughly that in a small sip of coffee, triggers a molecular “on switch.” When caffeine is present, specially designed molecules the investigators have termed “caffebodies” join together and activate CRISPR gene editing inside cells.

Instead of drugs constantly affecting your body’s organs and tissues, doctors could turn gene therapies on only when needed. For example, immune T-cells could be programmed to attack tumors when activated by consuming caffeine.

To fine tune the control, the researchers developed a stop switch using a medication called rapamycin. This agent turns off the gene editing a promises to provide a precise control over treatment.

This caffeine-controlled advanced gene therapy system promises to have applications beyond cancer treatment. Sips of coffee or doses of rapamycin could be employed by diabetics to turn on and off insulin production. Though clinical application is far off in the future, this work is an exciting proof-of-concept.

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