Advances in the application of colorectal cancer organoids in precision medicine

Abstract

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks among the most prevalent gastrointestinal tumors globally and poses a significant threat to human health. In recent years, tumor organoids have emerged as ideal models for clinical disease research owing to their ability to closely mimic the original tumor tissue and maintain a stable phenotypic structure. Organoid technology has found widespread application in basic tumor research, precision therapy, and new drug development, establishing itself as a reliable preclinical model in CRC research. This has significantly advanced individualized and precise tumor therapies. Additionally, the integration of single-cell technology has enhanced the precision of organoid studies, offering deeper insights into tumor heterogeneity and treatment response, thereby contributing to the development of personalized treatment approaches. This review outlines the evolution of colorectal cancer organoid technology and highlights its strengths in modeling colorectal malignancies. This review also summarizes the progress made in precision tumor medicine and addresses the challenges in organoid research, particularly when organoid research is combined with single-cell technology. Furthermore, this review explores the future potential of organoid technology in the standardization of culture techniques, high-throughput screening applications, and single-cell multi-omics integration, offering novel directions for future colorectal cancer research.

Keywords: CRC; colorectal; drug screening; gene editing; organoid; precision medicine; single-cell sequencing.

Figure 1

Establishment of colorectal cancer organoids and its application in morphology, multi-omics analysis and basic research. Biobank, human tissue-derived, and stem cell-derived cells can be cultured into colorectal organoids. These organoids are applicable for morphological observation, multi-omics analysis (including gene editing, ATAC-seq analysis, single-cell transcriptome analysis, and proteomic analysis), and basic research. PDTX, Patient-derived tumor xenograft model; GETO, Genetically modified tumor organoids; PDTO, Patient-derived organoids. Created with Biorender.com (accessed on 15 August 2024).

Figure 2

Applications of CRC organoids combined with single-cell sequencing technology. Normal and tumor tissues are used to generate corresponding organoids. By applying single-cell sequencing technology, the roles of various cell types in CRC development can be elucidated. This approach is valuable for drug screening and testing, gene function studies through gene editing, personalized treatment, as well as long-term tracking and monitoring. Created with Biorender.com (accessed on 15 August 2024).

Figure 3

Schematic representation of the application of normal, tumor organoids and Biobank. GETO and PDTO organoid models play a pivotal role in advancing personalized medicine, drug screening, gene editing, disease modeling, organoid-on-a-chip platforms, the development of novel 3D models, and the establishment of organoid biobanks. PDTX, Patient-derived tumor xenograft model; GETO, Genetically modified tumor organoids; PDTO, Patient-derived organoids. Created with Biorender.com (accessed on 15 August 2024).