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Primary Lung Cancer Organoids for Personalized Medicine-Are They Ready for Clinical Use?
Raphael S Werner1, Michaela B Kirschner1, Isabelle Opitz1
1Department of Thoracic Surgery, University Hospital Zurich, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland.
Abstract:
Despite many developments in recent years, non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Therefore, additional research, aiming to further elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms of malignant transformation and development of therapy resistance, as well as the identification of additional novel therapeutic avenues, is crucial. For this purpose, reliable in vitro models are indispensable, as they allow for quick identification of suspected oncogenic drivers or evaluation of novel therapeutic strategies in a timely and cost-effective fashion. However, standard two-dimensional cell culture systems, the most frequently used in vitro model, are usually not truly representative of the situation in a patient as these models lack the tumor heterogeneity, the surrounding tumor microenvironment and the three-dimensional complexity of a tumor in vitro. For this reason, 3D cell culture systems, in particular organoids generated from normal non-malignant cells or tumor cell-based organoids (tumoroids), have in recent years gained much attention as alternative in vitro model systems that more closely resemble the actual primary tumor. In this review, we provide an overview of the available literature in the field of NSCLC organoids, which might still be in its infancy, but is gaining momentum.
Insights
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) research needs better in vitro models. Organoids offer a more accurate representation of tumors than traditional 2D cultures for studying NSCLC.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Cell Biology
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is a leading cause of cancer mortality globally.
- Current research requires advanced in vitro models to understand NSCLC progression and treatment resistance.
- Traditional 2D cell cultures inadequately mimic the complexity of in vivo tumors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current literature on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) organoids.
- To highlight the potential of organoid technology as a superior in vitro model for NSCLC research.
- To discuss the advantages of 3D organoid systems over 2D cultures for modeling tumor heterogeneity and microenvironment.
Main Methods:
- Literature review of studies utilizing non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) organoids.
- Analysis of the development and application of 3D organoid culture systems in NSCLC research.
- Comparison of organoid models with traditional 2D cell culture systems.
Main Results:
- Organoid models, including tumoroids, are emerging as promising in vitro systems for NSCLC research.
- These 3D models better recapitulate tumor heterogeneity and the tumor microenvironment compared to 2D cultures.
- NSCLC organoids are gaining momentum as valuable tools for identifying oncogenic drivers and evaluating therapeutic strategies.
Conclusions:
- Organoid technology represents a significant advancement in developing more biologically relevant in vitro models for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC).
- The use of NSCLC organoids is crucial for future research aimed at overcoming therapeutic resistance and discovering novel treatments.
- Despite being in its early stages, the field of NSCLC organoids shows great promise for accelerating cancer research and drug development.
