Organoids in biliary tract cancers: Advances in modeling strategies and translational applications

Area of Science:

• * Biotechnology and regenerative medicine.
• * Gastroenterology and hepatology research.

Background:

• * Three-dimensional (3D) biliary organoids are an advanced in vitro technology.
• * They are valuable for studying biliary development, disease mechanisms, and drug responses.
• * Applications include personalized medicine and understanding biliary tract cancers (BTCs).

Purpose of the Study:

• * To provide a comprehensive review of current biliary organoid construction strategies.
• * To evaluate their strengths and limitations in modeling biliary physiology and diseases.
• * To analyze challenges and propose future research directions for clinical translation.

Main Methods:

• * Review of existing literature on biliary organoid generation and application.
• * Analysis of cellular sources, differentiation protocols, and functional assessments.
• * Evaluation of organoid utility in disease modeling (especially BTCs) and drug testing.

Main Results:

• * Biliary organoids effectively recapitulate aspects of biliary physiology and disease.
• * Current limitations include modeling efficiency, fidelity, microenvironment simulation, standardization, and ethics.
• * Strengths lie in drug screening, toxicity assessment, and personalized medicine approaches.

Conclusions:

• * Biliary organoids are a versatile tool bridging basic science and clinical applications for BTCs.
• * Future advancements require multicellular co-cultures, dynamic cultivation, and high-throughput platforms.
• * Standardization and ethical considerations are crucial for clinical translation and precision treatment.