In a recent review published in Med , researchers explored the use of patient-derived organoids (PDOs), or lab-grown mini-organs, as powerful tools in cancer research. PDOs replicate the complexity of human tumors, allowing for advanced studies of the tumor microenvironment (TME) and serving as preclinical models for gene editing, molecular profiling, drug testing, and biomarker discovery—crucial for personalized treatment approaches. Study: Patient-derived organoids in precision cancer medicine .
Image Credit: RaffMaster/Shutterstock.com Background Organoids are 3D models derived from patient cells that offer an accurate representation of human tissue. Recently approved as alternative drug-testing methods, organoids hold potential to replace animal models, providing insights into TME interactions and patient-specific drug responses.
PDO models and tumor interaction PDO co-culture models simulate interactions between cancer and immune cells, aiding the study of drug resistance and immunotherapy . Cancer-associated fibroblast (CAF)-PDO and endothelial cell (EC)-PDO co-cultures reveal how CAFs drive tumor progression and drug resistance, while ECs stimulate angiogenesis and inflammation. Advanced culture techniques Air-liquid interface (ALI) cultures ALI supports 3D tumor cultures, maintaining functional immune cells that help assess immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies, enhancing precision medicine.
Microfluidic cultures This method sustains tumor and immune cells in d.
