Tumor organoids: Opportunities and challenges to guide precision medicine

• Published in: Cancer cell Vol. 39; no. 9; pp. 1190 - 1201
• Main Authors: Veninga, Vivien, Voest, Emile E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Elsevier Inc 13.09.2021
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic Agents - therapeutic use; cancer; Clinical Decision-Making; clinical implementation; Drug Screening Assays, Antitumor; Humans; Models, Biological; Molecular Targeted Therapy; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - pathology; Organoids - drug effects; Organoids - pathology; Precision Medicine; preclinical research; Translational Research, Biomedical; tumor organoids; precision medicine; clinical implementation; tumor organoids; cancer; preclinical research
• ISSN: 1535-6108; 1878-3686
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2021.07.020

Tumor organoids have been proposed as a model system for precision medicine. The ability of tumor organoids to retain characteristics of the original tumor makes them unique for cancer research on an individual patient level. Hence, the idea to use tumor organoids for clinical decision making and optimize patient outcome is tempting. In vitro responses of tumor organoids to a wide array of drugs have been positively correlated to patient responses. However, substantial challenges remain and prospective studies with large cohorts are highly needed before implementation in clinical cancer care can be considered. Because of their personalized characteristics and the immediate link with patient data, tumor organoids also have great potential in preclinical research. Here, we provide a critical overview of both clinical and preclinical advances using tumor organoids. Tumor organoids have been proposed as a model system for precision medicine. The ability of tumor organoids to retain characteristics of the original tumor makes them unique for cancer research on an individual patient level. Hence, the idea to use tumor organoids for clinical decision making and optimize patient outcome is tempting. In vitro responses of tumor organoids to a wide array of drugs have been positively correlated to patient responses. However, substantial challenges remain and prospective studies with large cohorts are highly needed before implementation in clinical cancer care can be considered. Because of their personalized characteristics and the immediate link with patient data, tumor organoids also have great potential in preclinical research. Here, we provide a critical overview of both clinical and preclinical advances using tumor organoids.