[Spheroids to organoids: Solid cancer models for anticancer drug discovery]

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biotechnology
• Drug Discovery

Background:

• Two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures are standard in oncology research but fail to replicate in vivo tumor complexity.
• This limitation contributes to the high failure rate (over 95%) of anticancer drugs in clinical trials.
• Improved preclinical models are crucial for enhancing the success of novel cancer therapeutics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the application of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture models in oncology.
• To highlight the differences and utility of spheroids and organoids.
• To discuss their impact on cancer drug development and personalized medicine.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on 3D cell culture techniques, specifically spheroids and organoids.
• Analysis of the advantages of 3D models over traditional 2D cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironments.
• Examination of the role of spheroids and organoids in drug screening and personalized cancer treatment strategies.

Main Results:

• 3D cell culture models, including spheroids and organoids, provide a more accurate representation of tumor architecture and pathophysiology.
• These models enhance the predictive power of preclinical drug testing, potentially reducing clinical trial attrition.
• Spheroids and organoids are valuable tools for studying cancer evolution, metastasis, and for advancing personalized medicine.

Conclusions:

• Three-dimensional cell culture systems, particularly spheroids and organoids, are essential for improving the efficacy of cancer drug development.
• These models offer significant advantages over 2D cultures for both fundamental cancer research and translational applications.
• Future research should focus on optimizing 3D culture techniques and integrating them further into pharmaceutical pipelines and clinical practice.