Organoid technology in cancer precision medicine

Cancer Lett. 2019 Aug 10:457:20-27. doi: 10.1016/j.canlet.2019.04.039. Epub 2019 May 9.

Abstract

Organoid technology has been remarkably improved over the last decade. Various organoids have been derived from different types of tissues and recapitulate their organ-specific gene expression signatures, particular tissue spatial structures and functions of their original tissue. The patient-derived organoids (PDOs) have been used to elucidate crucial scientific questions, including the relationships between genetic/epigenetic alterations and drug responses, cell plasticity during disease progressions, and mechanisms of drug resistances. With the great expectations, PDOs will be widely used to facilitate the personalized medical decisions, which have the potential to profoundly improve patient outcomes. In this review, we will discuss the developmental details, current achievements, applications and challenges of organoid technology in precision cancer medicine.

Keywords: 3D culture; Patient-derived organoid; Precision medicine; Preclinical model.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Clinical Decision-Making
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Molecular Targeted Therapy
  • Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Neoplasms / genetics
  • Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Neoplasms / pathology
  • Organoids / drug effects*
  • Organoids / metabolism
  • Organoids / pathology
  • Patient Selection
  • Precision Medicine*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Tumor Cells, Cultured

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents