Construction and immunotherapy application of lung cancer organoids

Lung cancer stands as the most prevalent form of cancer and the primary cause of cancer-related mortality on a global scale. The presence of multiple genetic mutations in lung cancer patients, coupled with a high degree of patient heterogeneity, necessitates the exploration of modern precision medicine through personalized tumor models. Traditional cancer models, both in vitro and in vivo, exhibit certain limitations. In vitro, cell line models lack spatial organization and are incapable of fully capturing the complex heterogeneity of tumors. In contrast, in vivo, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models are characterized by extended culture durations and suboptimal transplantation success rates. In recent years, the advent of "organoid" technology, an in vitro three-dimensional (3D) culture method, has revolutionized cancer research. Organoids offer the advantage of rapid culture while preserving the fundamental characteristics of the parent tissue. With advancements in lung cancer organoids (LCOs) culture techniques, the construction of the tumor microenvironment, and integrations with other scientific domains, LCOs are now better equipped to mimic the in vivo lung cancer environment, thereby facilitating their application across various facets of lung cancer research. This paper conducted a comprehensive literature search on PubMed for articles about LCOs published within the last 5 years, integrating the most recent research developments. It subsequently provides a summary and in-depth discussion on the culture methods, tumor microenvironment construction, and applications in immunotherapy of LCOs, aiming to contribute to the ongoing advancements in the field of lung cancer research.