Functional Drug Screening in the Era of Precision Medicine

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Translational Medicine
• Biotechnology

Background:

• Precision medicine aims to tailor treatments to individual patients, significantly advancing oncology with targeted therapies.
• Current precision oncology primarily relies on genomic data for treatment decisions.
• Recent trials indicate that genomics alone is insufficient for optimal treatment selection.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the practicality and capabilities of various three-dimensional (3D) drug screening models.
• To assess the ability of different 3D models to replicate the patient's tumor microenvironment.
• To highlight the potential of functional drug testing in conjunction with genomic data for advancing precision medicine.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing literature on 3D drug screening models.
• Analysis of patient-derived organoids, organs on a chip, xenografts, and 3D-bioprinted models.
• Evaluation of the tumor microenvironment representation in each model.

Main Results:

• 3D drug screening models offer a functional perspective complementing genomic testing.
• These models vary in their ability to accurately mimic the patient's specific tumor microenvironment.
• Patient-derived organoids and other 3D systems show promise for personalized drug efficacy testing.

Conclusions:

• Functional drug testing using 3D models is a necessary addition to genomic profiling in precision oncology.
• Integrating 3D model data with genomic information and mathematical models can enhance treatment personalization.
• This combined approach holds significant potential for improving patient outcomes in cancer care.