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Will Organoids Fill the Gap towards Functional Precision Medicine?
Federica Papaccio1, Manuel Cabeza-Segura2, Blanca Garcia-Micò2
1Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Via S. Allende, 84081 Baronissi, Italy.
Abstract:
Precision medicine approaches for solid tumors are mainly based on genomics. Its employment in clinical trials has led to somewhat underwhelming results, except for single responses. Moreover, several factors can influence the response, such as gene and protein expression, the coexistence of different genomic alterations or post-transcriptional/translational modifications, the impact of tumor microenvironment, etc., therefore making it insufficient to employ a genomics-only approach to predict response. Recently, the implementation of patient-derived organoids has shed light on the possibility to use them to predict patient response to drug treatment. This could offer for the first time the possibility to move precision medicine to a functional environment.
Insights
Genomic analysis alone is insufficient for predicting solid tumor treatment response. Patient-derived organoids offer a functional approach to enhance precision medicine by predicting drug efficacy.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Genomics
- Translational Medicine
Background:
- Precision medicine in solid tumors primarily relies on genomic profiling.
- Genomics-only approaches have shown limited success in predicting patient response in clinical trials.
- Factors beyond genomics, including gene/protein expression and tumor microenvironment, influence treatment outcomes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the potential of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) in predicting drug response for solid tumors.
- To explore a functional approach to precision medicine beyond genomic analysis.
Main Methods:
- Implementation of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) derived from solid tumors.
- Utilizing PDOs as a model to test drug sensitivity and predict patient response.
Main Results:
- Patient-derived organoids provide a promising platform for functional drug screening.
- PDOs may overcome the limitations of genomics-only approaches in predicting treatment response.
- This functional approach could advance the application of precision medicine.
Conclusions:
- Patient-derived organoids represent a significant advancement for functional precision medicine in solid tumors.
- PDOs offer a viable strategy to predict individual patient response to drug treatments.
- Moving precision medicine to a functional environment using PDOs is feasible and impactful.
