Advances in precision oncology using patient-derived organoids and functional biomaterials

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Biomaterials Science
• Translational Medicine

Background:

• Cancer therapy faces challenges from tumor heterogeneity, drug resistance, and poor translation of experimental treatments.
• Traditional models like 2D cultures and animal systems lack accuracy in mimicking the tumor microenvironment and patient variability.
• Nanomedicine and advanced drug delivery face hurdles due to insufficient integration with relevant tumor models.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review patient-derived organoids (PDOs) as next-generation platforms for cancer research.
• To explore the integration of PDOs with biomaterials and organ-on-chip systems for modeling tumor microenvironments.
• To propose a roadmap for precision oncology by linking resistance mechanisms with advanced modeling and drug screening.

Main Methods:

• Critical examination of PDOs for modeling cancer heterogeneity, therapeutic response, and biomarker discovery.
• Exploration of PDO integration with functional biomaterials, extracellular matrix mimetics, and organ-on-chip systems.
• Synthesis of biological resistance mechanisms with biomaterial design and drug screening workflows.

Main Results:

• PDOs serve as advanced platforms for modeling cancer heterogeneity and response.
• Integrated PDO systems capture high-fidelity tumor-stroma-immune interactions.
• PDO biobanks, co-culture innovations, and high-throughput screening enhance clinical translation.

Conclusions:

• PDO-based platforms offer transformative potential for personalized cancer therapy.
• Integrating PDOs with advanced technologies addresses limitations of conventional preclinical models.
• This approach accelerates the development and clinical application of precision oncology treatments.