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Personalized cancer avatars for patients with thymic malignancies: A pilot study with circulating tumor cell-derived
Yuan-Hung Wu1,2,3, Heng-Sheng Chao2,4, Chi-Lu Chiang2,4
1Department of Oncology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.
Background:
Systemic therapy is the primary treatment for advanced thymic malignancies. However, there is an urgent need to improve clinical outcome. Personalized treatment based on predictive biomarkers is a potential approach to address this requirement. In this study, we aimed to show the correlation between drug sensitivity tests on CTCs-derived organoids and clinical response in patients with thymic malignancies. This approach carries the potential to create personalized cancer avatars and improve treatment outcome for patients.
Methods:
We previously reported potential treatment outcome prediction with patient-derived organoids (cancer avatars) in patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. To further investigate the feasibility of this approach in advanced thymic malignancies, we conducted a study in which 12 patients were enrolled and 21 liquid biopsies were performed.
Results:
Cancer avatars were successfully derived in 16 out of 21 samples (success rate 76.2%). We found a sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.6 for drug sensitivity tests on the cancer avatars, and a two-tailed Fisher's exact test revealed a significant correlation between drug sensitivity tests and clinical responses (p = 0.0275).
Conclusion:
This study supports the potential of circulating tumor cell-derived organoids to inform personalized treatment for advanced thymic malignancies. Further validation of this proof of concept finding is ongoing.
Insights
Drug sensitivity tests on circulating tumor cell-derived organoids correlate with clinical response in advanced thymic malignancies. This approach may enable personalized cancer treatment and improve patient outcomes.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biomarkers
- Personalized Medicine
Background:
- Advanced thymic malignancies require improved treatment outcomes.
- Personalized treatment strategies utilizing predictive biomarkers are needed.
- Circulating tumor cell (CTC)-derived organoids offer a potential avenue for personalized therapy.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the correlation between drug sensitivity tests on CTC-derived organoids and clinical response in patients with thymic malignancies.
- To assess the feasibility of using "cancer avatars" for treatment prediction in thymic cancers.
- To explore the potential of CTC-derived organoids in improving treatment outcomes for advanced thymic malignancies.
Main Methods:
- 12 patients with advanced thymic malignancies were enrolled.
- 21 liquid biopsies were performed for sample collection.
- Cancer avatars were successfully derived from 16 out of 21 samples (76.2% success rate).
Main Results:
- Drug sensitivity tests on cancer avatars demonstrated a sensitivity of 1.0 and specificity of 0.6.
- A significant correlation (p=0.0275) was found between drug sensitivity tests and clinical responses using a two-tailed Fisher's exact test.
- The study established a proof of concept for CTC-derived organoid drug sensitivity testing.
Conclusions:
- CTC-derived organoids show potential for informing personalized treatment strategies in advanced thymic malignancies.
- This approach may lead to improved clinical outcomes for patients with thymic cancers.
- Further validation studies are currently underway to confirm these findings.
