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Lung Cancer Organoids: The Rough Path to Personalized Medicine
Rachele Rossi1, Maria Laura De Angelis1, Eljona Xhelili2
1Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Viale Regina Elena 299, 00161 Rome, Italy.
Abstract:
Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide. Despite significant advances in research and therapy, a dismal 5-year survival rate of only 10-20% urges the development of reliable preclinical models and effective therapeutic tools. Lung cancer is characterized by a high degree of heterogeneity in its histology, a genomic landscape, and response to therapies that has been traditionally difficult to reproduce in preclinical models. However, the advent of three-dimensional culture technologies has opened new perspectives to recapitulate in vitro individualized tumor features and to anticipate treatment efficacy. The generation of lung cancer organoids (LCOs) has encountered greater challenges as compared to organoids derived from other tumors. In the last two years, many efforts have been dedicated to optimizing LCO-based platforms, resulting in improved rates of LCO production, purity, culture timing, and long-term expansion. However, due to the complexity of lung cancer, further advances are required in order to meet clinical needs. Here, we discuss the evolution of LCO technology and the use of LCOs in basic and translational lung cancer research. Although the field of LCOs is still in its infancy, its prospective development will likely lead to new strategies for drug testing and biomarker identification, thus allowing a more personalized therapeutic approach for lung cancer patients.
Insights
Lung cancer organoids (LCOs) are advancing preclinical models for this deadly disease. Improved LCO technology offers new hope for personalized lung cancer therapies and drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Genomics
Background:
- Lung cancer remains a leading cause of cancer mortality globally, with poor survival rates necessitating better research models.
- Tumor heterogeneity in lung cancer presents challenges for traditional preclinical models, hindering effective treatment development.
- Three-dimensional (3D) culture technologies offer promising avenues for recapitulating individual tumor characteristics in vitro.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the evolution and application of lung cancer organoids (LCOs) in research.
- To highlight the challenges and recent advancements in LCO technology.
- To discuss the potential of LCOs for personalized lung cancer therapy.
Main Methods:
- Review of recent literature on lung cancer organoid development and application.
- Analysis of improvements in LCO production, purity, and culture duration.
- Discussion of the role of LCOs in drug testing and biomarker identification.
Main Results:
- Significant efforts in the past two years have enhanced LCO production, purity, and expansion capabilities.
- LCO technology has shown promise in recapitulating lung cancer heterogeneity and predicting treatment responses.
- Despite advancements, further improvements are needed to fully meet clinical demands for lung cancer research.
Conclusions:
- Lung cancer organoids are an emerging technology with substantial potential for advancing lung cancer research.
- LCOs can facilitate personalized therapeutic strategies through improved drug testing and biomarker discovery.
- Continued development of LCO platforms is crucial for addressing the complexities of lung cancer and improving patient outcomes.
