Patient-derived organoids in precision cancer medicine

Abstract

Organoids are three-dimensional (3D) cultures, normally derived from stem cells, that replicate the complex structure and function of human tissues. They offer a physiologically relevant model to address important questions in cancer research. The generation of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from various human cancers allows for deeper insights into tumor heterogeneity and spatial organization. Additionally, interrogating non-tumor stromal cells increases the relevance in studying the tumor microenvironment, thereby enhancing the relevance of PDOs in personalized medicine. PDOs mark a significant advancement in cancer research and patient care, signifying a shift toward more innovative and patient-centric approaches. This review covers aspects of PDO cultures to address the modeling of the tumor microenvironment, including extracellular matrices, air-liquid interface and microfluidic cultures, and organ-on-chip. Specifically, the role of PDOs as preclinical models in gene editing, molecular profiling, drug testing, and biomarker discovery and their potential for guiding personalized treatment in clinical practice are discussed.

Keywords: cancer treatment; drug screening; organ-on-chip; patient-derived organoids; precision medicine; tumor microenvironment.