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Tumor organoids: Opportunities and challenges to guide precision medicine
Vivien Veninga1, Emile E Voest1
1Department of Molecular Oncology and Immunology, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam 1066CX, The Netherlands; Oncode Institute, Utrecht, The Netherlands.
Abstract:
Tumor organoids have been proposed as a model system for precision medicine. The ability of tumor organoids to retain characteristics of the original tumor makes them unique for cancer research on an individual patient level. Hence, the idea to use tumor organoids for clinical decision making and optimize patient outcome is tempting. In vitro responses of tumor organoids to a wide array of drugs have been positively correlated to patient responses. However, substantial challenges remain and prospective studies with large cohorts are highly needed before implementation in clinical cancer care can be considered. Because of their personalized characteristics and the immediate link with patient data, tumor organoids also have great potential in preclinical research. Here, we provide a critical overview of both clinical and preclinical advances using tumor organoids.
Insights
Tumor organoids offer a personalized approach for precision medicine in cancer research. While promising for predicting patient drug response, further large-scale studies are needed for clinical implementation.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Translational Medicine
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Tumor organoids are proposed as a model for precision medicine due to their ability to mimic original tumor characteristics.
- This patient-specific modeling holds potential for optimizing cancer treatment strategies and patient outcomes.
- In vitro drug screening using tumor organoids has shown positive correlations with in vivo patient responses.
Purpose of the Study:
- To provide a critical overview of the clinical and preclinical advancements in the use of tumor organoids.
- To assess the potential of tumor organoids in precision medicine and cancer research.
- To highlight the challenges and future directions for implementing tumor organoids in clinical practice.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on tumor organoid applications in clinical and preclinical cancer research.
- Analysis of studies correlating in vitro organoid drug responses with patient outcomes.
- Critical evaluation of the advantages and limitations of tumor organoid technology.
Main Results:
- Tumor organoids demonstrate potential for personalized cancer therapy and drug response prediction.
- Positive correlations observed between organoid drug sensitivity and patient clinical responses.
- Significant challenges and the need for large prospective studies before widespread clinical adoption.
Conclusions:
- Tumor organoids show great promise for preclinical research and personalized medicine in oncology.
- Further validation through large-scale prospective studies is crucial for clinical integration.
- Continued research is essential to overcome existing challenges and fully realize the potential of tumor organoids.
