Patient-derived tumor organoids: A preclinical platform for personalized cancer therapy
Sébastien Taurin, Reem Alzahrani, Sahar Aloraibi, Layal Ashi, Rawan A Rahman AlHarmi, Noora Hassani
Abstract
• PDTOs represent a significant advancement in cancer research and personalized medicine, retaining genetic and molecular characteristics of original tumors. • The success rates of establishing PDTOs vary widely, influenced by factors such as cancer type, tissue quality, and media composition. • Recent studies have supported the correlation between PDTOs and corresponding patient responses, promoting their integration in clinical trials. • PDTOs preserve oncogenic signatures of their cancer type, maintaining disrupted transcriptional pathways associated with specific cancers. • Genomic evolution can occur in PDTOs during extended culture periods, potentially causing drift from the original tumors. • PDTOs can be engineered using CRISPR technology to model cancer development and progression. • Challenges in PDTO research include standardization of protocols, addressing tumor heterogeneity, and improving culture conditions for certain cancer types. • The development of organoid biobanks has facilitated large-scale studies and drug screening efforts, contributing to advancements in cancer research and drug discovery. Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) represent a significant advancement in cancer research and personalized medicine. These organoids, derived from various cancer types, have shown the ability to retain the genetic and molecular characteristics of the original tumors, allowing for the detailed study of tumor biology and drug responses on an individual basis. The success rates of establishing PDTOs vary widely and are influenced by factors such as cancer type, tissue quality, and media composition. Furthermore, the dynamic nature of organoid cultures may also lead to unique molecular characteristics that deviate from the original tumors, affecting their interpretation in clinical settings without the implementation of rigorous validation and establishment of standardized protocols. Recent studies have supported the correlation between PDTOs and the corresponding patient response. Although these studies involved a small number of patients, they promoted the integration of PDTOs in observational and interventional clinical trials to advance translational cancer therapies.