Organoids derived from metastatic cancers: Present and future

Xuejing Zheng1, Xinxin Zhang1, Shengji Yu1

  • 1Departments of Orthopedics, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China.

Heliyon
|May 9, 2024
PubMed

Insights

Patient-derived organoids from metastatic cancers offer a promising model for understanding tumor biology and predicting drug responses. This review explores their potential and challenges in cancer research and therapy.

Area of Science:

  • Oncology
  • Biotechnology

Background:

  • Organoids mimic tissue architecture and function.
  • Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are vital for modeling tumor heterogeneity and drug screening.
  • Organoids from metastatic sites are increasingly studied for tumor biology insights.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review the feasibility of culturing organoids from metastatic cancers.
  • To evaluate their potential in basic cancer research, drug development, and personalized therapy.
  • To explore limitations and challenges of using metastasis organoids.

Main Methods:

  • Comprehensive literature review of studies on metastatic cancer organoids.
  • Analysis of organoid culturing techniques and applications.
  • Evaluation of current research and future prospects.

Main Results:

  • Organoids from metastatic sites show potential for modeling tumor biology.
  • They can provide insights into therapeutic response prediction.
  • Feasibility of culturing varies across different metastatic cancers.

Conclusions:

  • Metastatic cancer organoids are valuable tools for advancing cancer research.
  • They hold promise for drug development and personalized medicine.
  • Addressing current limitations is key to maximizing their utility.