Large-scale CRISPR screening in primary human 3D gastric organoids enables comprehensive dissection of gene-drug

Yuan-Hung Lo1,2, Hudson T Horn3, Mo-Fan Huang4,5

  • 1Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA. ylo1@mdanderson.org.

Nature Communications
|August 14, 2025
PubMed

Insights

Researchers used CRISPR screens in human gastric organoids to find genes affecting cisplatin drug response. This work reveals new insights into gene-drug interactions and potential therapeutic targets for gastric cancer.

Area of Science:

  • Genomics
  • Cancer Biology
  • Pharmacology

Background:

  • Personalized cancer treatment requires understanding gene-drug interactions.
  • Physiologically relevant human models are needed to study these complex interactions.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To systematically identify genes influencing cisplatin sensitivity using human gastric organoids.
  • To explore gene-drug interactions at a single-cell level.

Main Methods:

  • Large-scale CRISPR screens (knockout, CRISPRi, CRISPRa) in primary human 3D gastric organoids.
  • Integration of CRISPR perturbations with single-cell transcriptomics.
  • Analysis of gene modulation of cisplatin response.

Main Results:

  • Identified genes that modulate sensitivity to cisplatin in gastric cancer cells.
  • Uncovered a link between fucosylation and cisplatin sensitivity.
  • Identified TAF6L as a key regulator of cell recovery from cisplatin treatment.

Conclusions:

  • Human organoid models are effective for dissecting gene-drug interactions.
  • Findings offer insights into therapeutic vulnerabilities in gastric cancer.
  • This approach advances personalized medicine strategies.

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