Personalized Identification of Optimal HIPEC Perfusion Protocol in Patient-Derived Tumor Organoid Platform

Chemotherapy dosing duration and perfusion temperature vary significantly in HIPEC protocols. This study investigates patient-derived tumor organoids as a platform to identify the most efficacious perfusion protocol in a personalized approach.

Peritoneal tumor tissue from 15 appendiceal and 8 colon cancer patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC were used for personalized organoid development. Organoids were perfused in parallel at 37 and 42 °C with low- and high-dose oxaliplatin (200 mg/m² over 2 h vs. 460 mg/m² over 30 min) and MMC (40 mg/3L over 2 h). Viability assays were performed and pooled for statistical analysis.

An adequate organoid number was generated for 75% (6/8) of colon and 73% (11/15) of appendiceal patients. All 42 °C treatments displayed lower viability than 37 °C treatments. On pooled analysis, MMC and 200 mg/m² oxaliplatin displayed no treatment difference for either appendiceal or colon organoids (19% vs. 25%, p = 0.22 and 27% vs. 31%, p = 0.55, respectively), whereas heated MMC was superior to 460 mg/m² oxaliplatin in both primaries (19% vs. 54%, p < 0.001 and 27% vs. 53%, p = 0.002, respectively). In both appendiceal and colon tumor organoids, heated 200 mg/m² oxaliplatin displayed increased cytotoxicity as compared with 460 mg/m² oxaliplatin (25% vs. 54%, p < 0.001 and 31% vs. 53%, p = 0.008, respectively).

Organoids treated with MMC or 200 mg/m² heated oxaliplatin for 2 h displayed increased susceptibility in comparison with 30-min 460 mg/m² oxaliplatin. Optimal perfusion protocol varies among patients, and organoid technology may offer a platform for tailoring HIPEC conditions to the individual patient level.