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Updated: Sep 20, 2025
Multiparametric Tumor Organoid Drug Screening Using Widefield Live-Cell Imaging for Bulk and Single-Organoid Analysis
Published on: December 23, 2022
Organoid technologies in antitumor drug screening: past development, present applications, and future prospects
Junfa Yang1,2, Yipin Yang3, Pengkai Xu4
1Department of Emergency Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
Abstract:
Tumors are one of the major diseases affecting human life and health with an increasing incidence worldwide. Drug therapy is the most commonly used treatment for tumors. Therefore, screening for antitumor drugs has always been a focus of tumor research. Tumor organoids are an emerging screening drug model. As a 3D in vitro model, organoids not only retain the characteristics of the parent tumor well, but also reflect the role of the tumor microenvironment, making them an excellent platform for screening antitumor drugs. In recent years, organoid culture technology has developed rapidly and several tumor organoid libraries have been gradually established for research using cryopreservation and transgeneration methods. However, a lack of systematic summaries of organoids and tumor-screening drugs still exists. This review outlines the development of antitumor drug screening methods and summarizes common organoid models used for antitumor drug screening, including patient-derived tumor organoids and patient-derived organoids-based xenograft and subcutaneous transplantation models. In addition, the clinical application status of organoid technology in drug screening for various tumors is summarized, and the advantages and bottlenecks of organoid technology are objectively analyzed. In future, the combination of organoids and tumor-screening drugs will provide significant value in the treatment of tumors.
Insights
Tumor organoids offer a promising 3D in vitro model for screening antitumor drugs. This review summarizes organoid models and their clinical applications, highlighting their value in cancer drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Drug Discovery
- Biotechnology
Background:
- Tumors represent a significant global health challenge, with drug therapy being a primary treatment modality.
- Screening for effective antitumor drugs is crucial, and tumor organoids are emerging as a powerful preclinical model.
- Organoids, as 3D in vitro models, recapitulate tumor characteristics and the tumor microenvironment, enhancing drug screening capabilities.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review the development of antitumor drug screening methods utilizing organoid technology.
- To summarize common organoid models employed in antitumor drug screening, including patient-derived organoids and related xenograft models.
- To analyze the clinical applications, advantages, and limitations of organoid technology in cancer drug screening.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing literature on organoid culture and antitumor drug screening.
- Summarization of patient-derived tumor organoids and patient-derived organoids-based xenograft and subcutaneous transplantation models.
- Analysis of clinical data and research findings on organoid applications in various tumor types.
Main Results:
- Organoid technology has rapidly advanced, with established tumor organoid libraries.
- Patient-derived organoids and related models provide a robust platform for evaluating drug efficacy.
- The clinical application of organoids in drug screening shows significant potential across diverse tumor types.
Conclusions:
- Organoid technology presents a valuable platform for advancing antitumor drug screening and discovery.
- Despite current challenges, the integration of organoids with drug screening holds substantial promise for future cancer therapeutics.
- Further development and systematic application of organoids will significantly impact personalized cancer treatment strategies.
