Prostate cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths among men in Sub-Saharan Africa, where late-stage diagnoses are common due to limited access to affordable and sensitive diagnostic tools. Early detection is essential to improve survival and reduce the disease burden. This review explores the integration of epigenetic biomarkers and CRISPR-Cas12a technology as a transformative approach for early, non-invasive prostate cancer detection in resource-limited settings. Among the many complexities of cancer development, molecular dysregulation plays a critical role. Epigenetic modifications including DNA methylation, histone changes, and non-coding RNA expression have emerged as stable and specific biomarkers with significant potential for the early detection and characterisation of prostate carcinogenesis. However, their low concentration in body fluids poses a significant challenge for detection. CRISPR-Cas12a, renowned for its high specificity and sensitivity, offers a promising solution. When integrated with isothermal amplification and liquid biopsy techniques, it enables rapid, point-of-care diagnostics. This review proposes a CRISPR-Cas12a-based diagnostic pipeline for the detection of specific epigenetic markers in liquid biopsies that could be associated with prostate cancer. The adoption of this technology in Sub-Saharan Africa has the potential to significantly improve early diagnosis, reduce mortality, and promote health equity.

Prostate cancer is a major cause of cancer-related deaths among men in Sub-Saharan Africa, where late-stage diagnoses are common due to limited access to affordable and sensitive diagnostic tools. Early detection is essential to improve survival and reduce the disease burden. This review explores the integration of epigenetic biomarkers and CRISPR-Cas12a technology as a transformative approach for early, non-invasive prostate cancer detection in resource-limited settings. Among the many complexities of cancer development, molecular dysregulation plays a remarkable role, and epigenetic modifications such as DNA methylation, histone changes, and non-coding RNA expression have emerged as stable and specific biomarkers with significant potential for the early detection and characterisation of prostate carcinogenesis. However, their low concentration in body fluids presents a detection challenge. CRISPR-Cas12a, known for its high specificity and sensitivity, offers a promising solution. When combined with isothermal amplification and liquid biopsy techniques, it enables rapid, low-cost, and point-of-care diagnostics. This review proposes a low-cost, CRISPR-Cas12a-based diagnostic pipeline for detecting prostate cancer-specific epigenetic markers in liquid biopsies. The implementation of this technology in Sub-Saharan Africa could significantly improve early diagnosis, reduce mortality, and advance health equity.

Breast Tumour Kinase (BRK/PTK6) is a non-receptor tyrosine kinase that has attracted growing interest in breast cancer research due to its association with tumour progression, aggressive disease behaviour, therapy resistance, and prognosis. Although BRK is often discussed in relation to its expression in malignant breast tissues, its significance extends beyond expression level alone. Its activation, subcellular localisation, kinase-dependent signalling, and non-catalytic interactions all contribute to its influence on tumour behaviour. Across breast cancer models, BRK has been associated with disease progression, resistance-related signalling, and reduced treatment response, supporting its relevance as both a prognostic marker and a therapeutic target. Its role in breast cancer is not confined to a single pathway or mechanism, but reflects the combined contribution of kinase activity, functional interactions, activation status, localisation, and tumour subtype. This review examines the prognostic and therapeutic significance of BRK/PTK6 in breast cancer, with an emphasis on its roles in disease progression and therapy resistance, its potential as a biomarker, and emerging BRK-directed treatment strategies. Summary: This review explores the role of BRK/PTK6 in driving breast cancer progression and treatment resistance, emphasising its potential as a prognostic biomarker and discussing challenges in targeting BRK to improve breast cancer therapies.