Tumor organoids: Opportunities and challenges to guide precision medicine

Clinical efficacy of tumor organoid-guided cancer therapy for locally advanced unresectable or metastatic breast cancer

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) may facilitate treatment selection. This retrospective cohort study evaluated the feasibility and clinical benefit of using PDOs to guide personalized treatment in metastatic breast cancer (MBC). Patients diagnosed with MBC were recruited between January 2019 and August 2022. PDOs were established and the efficacy of customized drug panels was determined by measuring cell mortality after drug exposure. Patients receiving organoid-guided treatment (OGT) were matched 1:2 by nearest neighbor propensity scores with patients receiving treatment of physician's choice (TPC). The primary outcome was progression-free survival. Secondary outcomes included objective response rate and disease control rate. Targeted gene sequencing and pathway enrichment analysis were performed. Forty-six PDOs (46 of 51, 90.2%) were generated from 45 MBC patients. PDO drug screening showed an accuracy of 78.4% (95% CI 64.9%-91.9%) in predicting clinical responses. Thirty-six OGT patients were matched to 69 TPC patients. OGT was associated with prolonged median progression-free survival (11.0 months vs. 5.0 months; hazard ratio 0.53 [95% CI 0.33-0.85]; p = .01) and improved disease control (88.9% vs. 63.8%; odd ratio 4.26 [1.44-18.62]) compared with TPC. The objective response rate of both groups was similar. Pathway enrichment analysis in hormone receptor-positive, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-negative patients demonstrated differentially modulated pathways implicated in DNA repair and transcriptional regulation in those with reduced response to capecitabine/gemcitabine, and pathways associated with cell cycle regulation in those with reduced response to palbociclib. Our study shows that PDO-based functional precision medicine is a feasible and effective strategy for MBC treatment optimization and customization.

Biomimetic hydrogels with mesoscale collagen architecture for patient-derived tumor organoids culture

Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) shows great potential as a preclinical model. However, the current methods for establishing PDTOs primarily focus on modulating local properties, such as sub-micrometer topographies. Nevertheless, they neglect to capture the global millimeter or intermediate mesoscale architecture that have been demonstrated to influence tumor response to therapeutic treatment and tumor progression. In this study, we present a rapid technique for generating collagen bundles with an average length of 90 ± 27 μm and a mean diameter of 5 ± 1.5 μm from tumor tissue debris that underwent mechanical agitation following enzymatic digestion. The collagen bundles were subsequently utilized for the fabrication of biomimetic hydrogels, incorporating microbial transglutaminase (mTG) crosslinked gelatin. These biomimetic hydrogels, referred to as MC-gel, were specifically designed for patient-derived tumor organoids. The lung cancer organoids cultured in MC-gel exhibited larger diameters and higher cell viability compared to those cultured in gels lacking the mesoscale collagen bundle; moreover, their irregular morphology more closely resembled that observed in vivo. The MC-gel-based lung cancer organoids effectively replicated the histology and mutational landscapes observed in the original donor patient's tumor tissue. Additionally, these lung cancer organoids showed a remarkable similarity in their gene expression and drug response across different matrices. This recently developed model holds great potential for investigating the occurrence, progression, metastasis, and management of tumors, thereby offering opportunities for personalized medicine and customized treatment options.

Cancer organoids 2.0: modelling the complexity of the tumour immune microenvironment

The development of neoplasia involves a complex and continuous interplay between malignantly transformed cells and the tumour microenvironment (TME). Cancer immunotherapies targeting the immune TME have been increasingly validated in clinical trials but response rates vary substantially between tumour histologies and are often transient, idiosyncratic and confounded by resistance. Faithful experimental models of the patient-specific tumour immune microenvironment, capable of recapitulating tumour biology and immunotherapy effects, would greatly improve patient selection, target identification and definition of resistance mechanisms for immuno-oncology therapeutics. In this Review, we discuss currently available and rapidly evolving 3D tumour organoid models that capture important immune features of the TME. We highlight diverse opportunities for organoid-based investigations of tumour immunity, drug development and precision medicine.

Generating human bone marrow organoids for disease modeling and drug discovery

The bone marrow supports and regulates hematopoiesis, responding to physiological requirements for blood cell production over ontogeny and during pathological challenges. Interactions between hematopoietic cells and niche components are challenging to study mechanistically in the human context, but are important to delineate in order to explore the pathobiology of blood and bone marrow disorders. Organoids are proving transformative in many research settings, but an accurate human bone marrow model incorporating multiple hematopoietic and stromal elements has been lacking. This protocol describes a method to generate three-dimensional, multilineage bone marrow organoids from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs), detailing the steps for the directed differentiation of hiPSCs using a series of cytokine cocktails and hydrogel embedding. Over 18 days of differentiation, hiPSCs yield the key lineages that are present in central myelopoietic bone marrow, organized in a well-vascularized architecture that resembles native hematopoietic tissues. This presents a robust, in vitro system that can model healthy and perturbed hematopoiesis in a scalable three-dimensional microenvironment. Bone marrow organoids also support the growth of immortalized cell lines and primary cells from healthy donors and patients with myeloid and lymphoid cancers, including cell types that are poorly viable in standard culture systems. Moreover, we discuss assays for the characterization of organoids, including interrogation of pathogenic remodeling using recombinant TGF-ß treatment, and methods for organoid engraftment with exogenous cells. This protocol can be readily adapted to specific experimental requirements, can be easily implemented by users with tissue culture experience and does not require access to specialist equipment.

Gastric Cancer Assembloids Derived from Patient-Derived Xenografts: A Preclinical Model for Therapeutic Drug Screening

The construction of reliable preclinical models is crucial for understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in gastric cancer and for advancing precision medicine. Currently, existing in vitro tumor models often do not accurately replicate the human gastric cancer environment and are unsuitable for high-throughput therapeutic drug screening. In this study, droplet microfluidic technology is employed to create novel gastric cancer assembloids by encapsulating patient-derived xenograft gastric cancer cells and patient stromal cells in Gelatin methacryloyl (GelMA)-Gelatin-Matrigel microgels. The usage of GelMA-Gelatin-Matrigel composite hydrogel effectively alleviated cell aggregation and sedimentation during the assembly process, allowing for the handling of large volumes of cell-laden hydrogel and the uniform generation of assembloids in a high-throughput manner. Notably, the patient-derived xenograft assembloids exhibited high consistency with primary tumors at both transcriptomic and histological levels, and can be efficiently scaled up for preclinical drug screening efforts. Furthermore, the drug screening results clearly demonstrated that the in vitro assembloid model closely mirrored in vivo drug responses. Thus, these findings suggest that gastric cancer assembloids, which effectively replicate the in vivo tumor microenvironment, show promise for enabling more precise high-throughput drug screening and predicting the clinical outcomes of various drugs.

Mimicking Tumor Metastasis Using a Transwell-Integrated Organoids-On-a-Chip Platform

The mortality rate among cancer patients is primarily attributed to tumor metastasis. The evaluation of metastasis potential provides a powerful framework for personalized therapies. However, little work has so far been undertaken to precisely model tumor metastasis in vitro, hindering the development of preventive and therapeutic interventions. In this work, a tumor-metastasis-mimicked Transwell-integrated organoids-on-a-chip platform (TOP) for precisely evaluating tumor metastatic potential is developed. Unlike the conventional Transwell device for detecting cell migration, the engineered device facilitates the assessment of metastasis in patient-derived organoids (PDO). Furthermore, a novel Transwell chamber with a hexagon-shaped structure is developed to mimic the migration of tumor cells into surrounding tissues, allowing for the evaluation of tumor metastasis in a horizontal direction. As a proof-of-concept demonstration, tumor organoids and metastatic clusters are further evaluated at the protein, genetic, and phenotypic levels. In addition, preliminary drug screening is undertaken to highlight the potential for using the device to combat cancers. In summary, the tumor-metastasis-mimicked TOP offers unique capabilities for evaluating the metastasis potential of tumor organoids and contributes to the development of personalized cancer therapies.

The OVAREX study: Establishment of ex vivo ovarian cancer models to validate innovative therapies and to identify predictive biomarkers

BACKGROUND

Ovarian cancer is the first cause of death from gynecological malignancies mainly due to development of chemoresistance. Despite the emergence of PARP inhibitors, which have revolutionized the therapeutic management of some of these ovarian cancers, the 5-year overall survival rate remains around 45%. Therefore, it is crucial to develop new therapeutic strategies, to identify predictive biomarkers and to predict the response to treatments. In this context, functional assays based on patient-derived tumor models could constitute helpful and relevant tools for identifying efficient therapies or to guide clinical decision making.

METHOD

The OVAREX study is a single-center non-interventional study which aims at investigating the feasibility of establishing in vivo and ex vivo models and testing ex vivo models to predict clinical response of ovarian cancer patients. Patient-Derived Xenografts (PDX) will be established from tumor fragments engrafted subcutaneously into immunocompromised mice. Explants will be generated by slicing tumor tissues and Ascites-Derived Spheroids (ADS) will be isolated following filtration of ascites. Patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTO) will be established after dissociation of tumor tissues or ADS, cell embedding into extracellular matrix and culture in specific medium. Molecular and histological characterizations will be performed to compare tumor of origin and paired models. Response of ex vivo tumor-derived models to conventional chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors will be assessed and compared to results of companion diagnostic test and/or to the patient's response to evaluate their predictive value.

DISCUSSION

This clinical study aims at generating PDX and ex vivo models (PDTO, ADS, and explants) from tumors or ascites of ovarian cancer patients who will undergo surgical procedure or paracentesis. We aim at demonstrating the predictive value of ex vivo models for their potential use in routine clinical practice as part of precision medicine, as well as establishing a collection of relevant ovarian cancer models that will be useful for the evaluation of future innovative therapies.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

The clinical trial has been validated by local research ethic committee on January 25th 2019 and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT03831230 on January 28th 2019, last amendment v4 accepted on July 18, 2023.

DMPK perspective on quantitative model analysis for chimeric antigen receptor cell therapy: Advances and challenges

Chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) cells are genetically engineered immune cells that specifically target tumor-associated antigens and have revolutionized cancer treatment, particularly in hematological malignancies, with ongoing investigations into their potential applications in solid tumors. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current status and challenges in drug metabolism and pharmacokinetics (DMPK) for CAR cell therapy, specifically emphasizing on quantitative modeling and simulation (M&S). Furthermore, the recent advances in quantitative model analysis have been reviewed, ranging from clinical data characterization to mechanism-based modeling that connects in vitro and in vivo nonclinical and clinical study data. Additionally, the future perspectives and areas for improvement in CAR cell therapy translation have been reviewed. This includes using formulation quality considerations, characterization of appropriate animal models, refinement of in vitro models for bottom-up approaches, and enhancement of quantitative bioanalytical methodology. Addressing these challenges within a DMPK framework is pivotal in facilitating the translation of CAR cell therapy, ultimately enhancing the patients' lives through efficient CAR cell therapies.

Exploring tumor organoids for cancer treatment

As a life-threatening chronic disease, cancer is characterized by tumor heterogeneity. This heterogeneity is associated with factors that lead to treatment failure and poor prognosis, including drug resistance, relapse, and metastasis. Therefore, precision medicine urgently needs personalized tumor models that accurately reflect the tumor heterogeneity. Currently, tumor organoid technologies are used to generate in vitro 3D tissues, which have been shown to precisely recapitulate structure, tumor microenvironment, expression profiles, functions, molecular signatures, and genomic alterations in primary tumors. Tumor organoid models are important for identifying potential therapeutic targets, characterizing the effects of anticancer drugs, and exploring novel diagnostic and therapeutic options. In this review, we describe how tumor organoids can be cultured and summarize how researchers can use them as an excellent tool for exploring cancer therapies. In addition, we discuss tumor organoids that have been applied in cancer therapy research and highlight the potential of tumor organoids to guide preclinical research.

Patient tissue-derived FGFR4-variant and wild-type colorectal cancer organoid development and anticancer drug sensitivity testing

Objectives

FGFR4-variant and wild-type colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids were developed to investigate the effects of FGFR4-targeted drugs, including FGFR4-IN and erdafitinib, on CRC and their possible molecular mechanism.

Methods

Clinical CRC tissues were collected, seven CRC organoids were developed, and whole exome sequencing (WES) was performed. CRC organoids were cultured and organoid drug sensitivity studies were conducted. Finally, an FGFR4-variant (no wild-type) CRC patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse model was developed. Western blot measured ERK/AKT/STAT3 pathway-related protein levels.

Results

WES results revealed the presence of FGFR4-variants in 5 of the 7 CRC organoids. The structural organization and integrity of organoids were significantly altered under the influence of targeted drugs (FGFR4-IN-1 and erdafitinib). The effects of FGFR4 targeted drugs were not selective for FGFR4 genotypes. FGFR4-IN-1 and erdafitinib significantly reduced the growth, diameter, and Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) activity of organoids. Furthermore, chemotherapeutic drugs, including 5-fluorouracil and cisplatin, inhibited FGFR4-variant and wild-type CRC organoid activity. Moreover, the tumor volume of mice was significantly reduced at week 6, and p-ERK1/2, p-AKT, and p-STAT3 levels were down-regulated following FGFR4-IN-1 and erdafitinib treatment.

Conclusions

FGFR4-targeted and chemotherapeutic drugs inhibited the activity of FGFR4-variant and wild-type CRC organoids, and targeted drugs were more effective than chemotherapeutic drugs at the same concentration. Additionally, FGFR4 inhibitors hindered tumorigenesis in FGFR4-variant CRC organoids through ERK1/2, AKT, and STAT3 pathways. However, no wild-type control was tested in this experiment, which need further confirmation in the next study.

A systematic review on the culture methods and applications of 3D tumoroids for cancer research and personalized medicine

Cancer is a highly heterogeneous disease, and thus treatment responses vary greatly between patients. To improve therapy efficacy and outcome for cancer patients, more representative and patient-specific preclinical models are needed. Organoids and tumoroids are 3D cell culture models that typically retain the genetic and epigenetic characteristics, as well as the morphology, of their tissue of origin. Thus, they can be used to understand the underlying mechanisms of cancer initiation, progression, and metastasis in a more physiological setting. Additionally, co-culture methods of tumoroids and cancer-associated cells can help to understand the interplay between a tumor and its tumor microenvironment. In recent years, tumoroids have already helped to refine treatments and to identify new targets for cancer therapy. Advanced culturing systems such as chip-based fluidic devices and bioprinting methods in combination with tumoroids have been used for high-throughput applications for personalized medicine. Even though organoid and tumoroid models are complex in vitro systems, validation of results in vivo is still the common practice. Here, we describe how both animal- and human-derived tumoroids have helped to identify novel vulnerabilities for cancer treatment in recent years, and how they are currently used for precision medicine.

Enhancing Chemotherapy Response Prediction via Matched Colorectal Tumor-Organoid Gene Expression Analysis and Network-Based Biomarker Selection

Colorectal cancer (CRC) poses significant challenges in chemotherapy response prediction due to its molecular heterogeneity. This study introduces an innovative methodology that leverages gene expression data generated from matched colorectal tumor and organoid samples to enhance prediction accuracy. By applying Consensus Weighted Gene Co-expression Network Analysis (WGCNA) across multiple datasets, we identify critical gene modules and hub genes that correlate with patient responses, particularly to 5-fluorouracil (5-FU). This integrative approach advances precision medicine by refining chemotherapy regimen selection based on individual tumor profiles. Our predictive model demonstrates superior accuracy over traditional methods on independent datasets, illustrating significant potential in addressing the complexities of high-dimensional genomic data for cancer biomarker research.

The Dual Role of the NFATc2/galectin-9 Axis in Modulating Tumor-Initiating Cell Phenotypes and Immune Suppression in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Tumor-initiating cells (TICs) resilience and an immunosuppressive microenvironment are aggressive oncogenic phenotypes that contribute to unsatisfactory long-term outcomes in lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) patients. The molecular mechanisms mediating the interaction between TICs and immune tolerance have not been elucidated. The role of Galectin-9 in oncogenesis and immunosuppressive microenvironment is still unknown. This study explored the potential role of galectin-9 in TIC regulation and immune modulation in LUAD. The results show that galectin-9 supports TIC properties in LUAD. Co-culture of patient-derived organoids and matched peripheral blood mononuclear cells showed that tumor-secreted galectin-9 suppressed T cell cytotoxicity and induced regulatory T cells (Tregs). Clinically, galectin-9 is upregulated in human LUAD. High expression of galectin-9 predicted poor recurrence-free survival and correlated with high levels of Treg infiltration. LGALS9, the gene encoding galectin-9, is found to be transcriptionally regulated by the nuclear factor of activated T cells 2 (NFATc2), a previously reported TIC regulator, via in silico prediction and luciferase reporter assays. Overall, the results suggest that the NFATc2/galectin-9 axis plays a dual role in TIC regulation and immune suppression.

A novel SIK2 inhibitor SIC-19 exhibits synthetic lethality with PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer

PURPOSE

Ovarian cancer patients with HR proficiency (HRP) have had limited benefits from PARP inhibitor treatment, highlighting the need for improved therapeutic strategies. In this study, we developed a novel SIK2 inhibitor, SIC-19, and investigated its potential to enhance the sensitivity and expand the clinical utility of PARP inhibitors in ovarian cancer.

METHODS

The SIK2 protein was modeled using a Molecular Operating Environment (MOE), and the most favorable model was selected based on a GBVI/WSA dG scoring function. The Chembridge Compound Library was screened, and the top 20 candidate compounds were tested for their interaction with SIK2 and downstream substrates, AKT-pS473 and MYLK-pS343. SIC-19 emerged as the most promising drug candidate and was further evaluated using multiple assays.

RESULTS

SIC-19 exhibited selective and potent inhibition of SIK2, leading to its degradation through the ubiquitination pathway. The IC50 of SIC-19 correlated inversely with endogenous SIK2 expression in ovarian cancer cell lines. Treatment with SIC-19 significantly inhibited cancer cell growth and sensitized cells to PARP inhibitors in vitro, as well as in ovarian cancer organoids and xenograft models. Mechanistically, SIK2 knockdown and SIC-19 treatment reduced RAD50 phosphorylation at Ser635, prevented nuclear translocation of RAD50, disrupted nuclear filament assembly, and impaired DNA homologous recombination repair, ultimately inducing apoptosis. These findings highlight the crucial role of SIK2 in the DNA HR repair pathway and demonstrate the significant PARP inhibitor sensitization achieved by SIC-19 in ovarian cancer.

CONCLUSIONS

SIC-19, a novel SIK2 inhibitor, effectively inhibits tumor cell growth in ovarian cancer by interfering with RAD50-mediated DNA HR repair. Furthermore, SIC-19 enhances the efficacy of PARP inhibitors, providing a promising therapeutic strategy to improve outcomes for ovarian cancer patients.

Adipose-derived stem cells promote glycolysis and peritoneal metastasis via TGF-β1/SMAD3/ANGPTL4 axis in colorectal cancer

Peritoneal metastasis, the third most common metastasis in colorectal cancer (CRC), has a poor prognosis for the rapid progression and limited therapeutic strategy. However, the molecular characteristics and pathogenesis of CRC peritoneal metastasis are poorly understood. Here, we aimed to elucidate the action and mechanism of adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs), a prominent component of the peritoneal microenvironment, in CRC peritoneal metastasis formation. Database analysis indicated that ADSCs infiltration was increased in CRC peritoneal metastases, and high expression levels of ADSCs marker genes predicted a poor prognosis. Then we investigated the effect of ADSCs on CRC cells in vitro and in vivo. The results revealed that CRC cells co-cultured with ADSCs exhibited stronger metastatic property and anoikis resistance, and ADSCs boosted the intraperitoneal seeding of CRC cells. Furthermore, RNA sequencing was carried out to identify the key target gene, angiopoietin like 4 (ANGPTL4), which was upregulated in CRC specimens, especially in peritoneal metastases. Mechanistically, TGF-β1 secreted by ADSCs activated SMAD3 in CRC cells, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assay showed that SMAD3 facilitated ANGPTL4 transcription by directly binding to ANGPTL4 promoter. The ANGPTL4 upregulation was essential for ADSCs to promote glycolysis and anoikis resistance in CRC. Importantly, simultaneously targeting TGF-β signaling and ANGPTL4 efficiently reduced intraperitoneal seeding in vivo. In conclusion, this study indicates that tumor-infiltrating ADSCs promote glycolysis and anoikis resistance in CRC cells and ultimately facilitate peritoneal metastasis via the TGF-β1/SMAD3/ANGPTL4 axis. The dual-targeting of TGF-β signaling and ANGPTL4 may be a feasible therapeutic strategy for CRC peritoneal metastasis.

Organoid forming potential as complementary parameter for accurate evaluation of breast cancer neoadjuvant therapeutic efficacy

BACKGROUND

13-15% of breast cancer/BC patients diagnosed as pathological complete response/pCR after neoadjuvant systemic therapy/NST suffer from recurrence. This study aims to estimate the rationality of organoid forming potential/OFP for more accurate evaluation of NST efficacy.

METHODS

OFPs of post-NST residual disease/RD were checked and compared with clinical approaches to estimate the recurrence risk. The phenotypes of organoids were classified via HE staining and ER, PR, HER2, Ki67 and CD133 immuno-labeling. The active growing organoids were subjected to drug sensitivity tests.

RESULTS

Of 62 post-NST BC specimens, 24 were classified as OFP-I with long-term active organoid growth, 19 as OFP-II with stable organoid growth within 3 weeks, and 19 as OFP-III without organoid formation. Residual tumors were overall correlated with OFP grades (P < 0.001), while 3 of the 18 patients (16.67%) pathologically diagnosed as tumor-free (ypT0N0M0) showed tumor derived-organoid formation. The disease-free survival/DFS of OFP-I cases was worse than other two groups (Log-rank P < 0.05). Organoids of OFP-I/-II groups well maintained the biological features of their parental tumors and were resistant to the drugs used in NST.

CONCLUSIONS

The OFP would be a complementary parameter to improve the evaluation accuracy of NST efficacy of breast cancers.

Identifying the effectiveness of 3D culture systems to recapitulate breast tumor tissue in situ

PURPOSE

Breast cancer heterogeneity contributes to chemotherapy resistance and decreased patient survival. To improve patient outcomes it is essential to develop a technology that is able to rapidly select the most efficacious therapy that targets the diverse phenotypes present within the tumor. Breast cancer organoid technologies are proposed as an attractive approach for evaluating drug responses prior to patient therapy. However, there remain challenges in evaluating the effectiveness of organoid cultures to recapitulate the heterogeneity present in the patient tumor in situ.

METHOD

Organoids were generated from seven normal breast and nineteen breast cancer tissues diagnosed as estrogen receptor positive or triple negative. The Jensen-Shannon divergence index, a measure of the similarity between distributions, was used to compare and evaluate heterogeneity in starting tissue and their resultant organoids. Heterogeneity was analyzed using cytokeratin 8 and cytokeratin 14, which provided an easily scored readout.

RESULTS

In the in vitro culture system HER1 and FGFR were able to drive intra-tumor heterogeneity to generate divergent phenotypes that have different sensitivities to chemotherapies.

CONCLUSION

Our methodology, which focuses on quantifiable cellular phenotypes, provides a tractable system that complements omics approaches to provide an unprecedented view of heterogeneity and will enhance the identification of novel therapies and facilitate personalized medicine.

Organoids as preclinical models of human disease: progress and applications

In the field of biomedical research, organoids represent a remarkable advancement that has the potential to revolutionize our approach to studying human diseases even before clinical trials. Organoids are essentially miniature 3D models of specific organs or tissues, enabling scientists to investigate the causes of diseases, test new drugs, and explore personalized medicine within a controlled laboratory setting. Over the past decade, organoid technology has made substantial progress, allowing researchers to create highly detailed environments that closely mimic the human body. These organoids can be generated from various sources, including pluripotent stem cells, specialized tissue cells, and tumor tissue cells. This versatility enables scientists to replicate a wide range of diseases affecting different organ systems, effectively creating disease replicas in a laboratory dish. This exciting capability has provided us with unprecedented insights into the progression of diseases and how we can develop improved treatments. In this paper, we will provide an overview of the progress made in utilizing organoids as preclinical models, aiding our understanding and providing a more effective approach to addressing various human diseases.

Engineering Tumor Stroma Morphogenesis Using Dynamic Cell-Matrix Spheroid Assembly

The tumor microenvironment consists of resident tumor cells organized within a compositionally diverse, three-dimensional (3D) extracellular matrix (ECM) network that cannot be replicated in vitro using bottom-up synthesis. We report a new self-assembly system to engineer ECM-rich 3D MatriSpheres wherein tumor cells actively organize and concentrate microgram quantities of decellularized ECM dispersions which modulate cell phenotype. 3D colorectal cancer (CRC) MatriSpheres were created using decellularized small intestine submucosa (SIS) as an orthotopic ECM source that had greater proteomic homology to CRC tumor ECM than traditional ECM formulations such as Matrigel. SIS ECM was rapidly concentrated from its environment and assembled into ECM-rich 3D stroma-like regions by mouse and human CRC cell lines within 4-5 days via a mechanism that was rheologically distinct from bulk hydrogel formation. Both ECM organization and transcriptional regulation by 3D ECM cues affected programs of malignancy, lipid metabolism, and immunoregulation that corresponded with an in vivo MC38 tumor cell subpopulation identified via single cell RNA sequencing. This 3D modeling approach stimulates tumor specific tissue morphogenesis that incorporates the complexities of both cancer cell and ECM compartments in a scalable, spontaneous assembly process that may further facilitate precision medicine.

Toward innovative approaches for exploring the mechanically regulated tumor-immune microenvironment

Within the complex tumor microenvironment, cells experience mechanical cues-such as extracellular matrix stiffening and elevation of solid stress, interstitial fluid pressure, and fluid shear stress-that significantly impact cancer cell behavior and immune responses. Recognizing the significance of these mechanical cues not only sheds light on cancer progression but also holds promise for identifying potential biomarkers that would predict therapeutic outcomes. However, standardizing methods for studying how mechanical cues affect tumor progression is challenging. This challenge stems from the limitations of traditional in vitro cell culture systems, which fail to encompass the critical contextual cues present in vivo. To address this, 3D tumor spheroids have been established as a preferred model, more closely mimicking cancer progression, but they usually lack reproduction of the mechanical microenvironment encountered in actual solid tumors. Here, we review the role of mechanical forces in modulating tumor- and immune-cell responses and discuss how grasping the importance of these mechanical cues could revolutionize in vitro tumor tissue engineering. The creation of more physiologically relevant environments that better replicate in vivo conditions will eventually increase the efficacy of currently available treatments, including immunotherapies.

Patient-derived tumor organoids with p53 mutations, and not wild-type p53, are sensitive to synergistic combination PARP inhibitor treatment

Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase inhibitors (PARPi) are used for patients with BRCA1/2 mutations, but patients with other mutations may benefit from PARPi treatment. Another mutation that is present in more cancers than BRCA1/2 is mutation to the TP53 gene. In 2D breast cancer cell lines, mutant p53 (mtp53) proteins tightly associate with replicating DNA and Poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) protein. Combination drug treatment with the alkylating agent temozolomide and the PARPi talazoparib kills mtp53 expressing 2D grown breast cancer cell lines. We evaluated the sensitivity to the combination of temozolomide plus PARPi talazoparib treatment to breast and lung cancer patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs). The combination of the two drugs was synergistic for a cytotoxic response in PDTOs with mtp53 but not for PDTOs with wtp53. The combination of talazoparib and temozolomide induced more DNA double-strand breaks in mtp53 expressing organoids than in wild-type p53 expressing organoids as shown by increased γ-H2AX protein expression. Moreover, breast cancer tissue microarrays (TMAs) showed a positive correlation between stable p53 and high PARP1 expression in sub-groups of breast cancers, which may indicate sub-classes of breast cancers sensitive to PARPi therapy. These results suggest that mtp53 could be a biomarker to predict response to the combination of PARPi talazoparib-temozolomide treatment.

Innovative explorations: unveiling the potential of organoids for investigating environmental pollutant exposure

As the economy rapidly develops, chemicals are widely produced and used. This has exacerbated the problems associated with environmental pollution, raising the need for efficient toxicological evaluation techniques to investigate the toxic effects and mechanisms of toxicity of environmental pollutants. The progress in the techniques of cell culture in three dimensions has resulted in the creation of models that are more relevant in terms of biology and physiology. This enables researchers to study organ development, toxicology, and drug screening. Adult stem cells (ASCs) and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) can be obtained from various mammalian tissues, including cancerous and healthy tissues. Such stem cells exhibit a significant level of tissue memory and ability to self-assemble. When cultivated in 3D in vitro environments, the resulting organoids demonstrate a remarkable capacity to recapitulate the cellular composition and function of organs in vivo. Recently, many tumors' tissue-derived organoids have been widely used in research on tumor pathogenesis, drug development, precision medicine, and other fields, including those derived from colon cancer, cholangiocarcinoma, liver cancer, and gastric cancer. However, the application of organoid models for evaluating the toxicity of environmental pollutants is still in its infancy. This review introduces the characteristics of the toxicity responses of organoid models upon exposure to pollutants from the perspectives of organoid characteristics, tissue types, and their applications in toxicology; discusses the feasibility of using organoid models in evaluating the toxicity of pollutants; and provides a reference for future toxicological studies on environmental pollutants based on organoid models.

A systematic review of patient-derived tumor organoids generation from malignant effusions

This review assesses the possibility of utilizing malignant effusions (MEs) for generating patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs). Obtained through minimally invasive procedures MEs broaden the spectrum of organoid sources beyond resection specimens and tissue biopsies. A systematic search yielded 11 articles, detailing the successful generation of 190 ME-PDTOs (122 pleural effusions, 54 malignant ascites). Success rates ranged from 33% to 100%, with an average of 84% and median of 92%. A broad and easily applicable array of techniques can be employed, encompassing diverse collection methods, variable centrifugation speeds, and the inclusion of approaches like RBC lysis buffer or centrifuged ME supernatants supplementation, enhancing the versatility and accessibility of the methodology. ME-PDTOs were found to recapitulate primary tumor characteristics and were primarily used for drug screening applications. Thus, MEs are a reliable source for developing PDTOs, emphasizing the need for further research to maximize their potential, validate usage, and refine culturing processes.

The application of organoid models in research into metabolic diseases

Metabolic diseases have become a major threat to human health worldwide as a result of changing lifestyles. The exploration of the underlying molecular mechanisms of metabolic diseases and the development of improved therapeutic methods have been hindered by the lack of appropriate human experimental models. Organoids are three-dimensional in vitro models of self-renewing cells that spontaneously self-organize into structures similar to the corresponding in vivo tissues, recapitulating the original tissue function. Off-body organoid technology has been successfully applied to disease modelling, developmental biology, regenerative medicine, and tumour precision medicine. This new generation of biological models has received widespread attention. This article focuses on the construction process and research progress with regard to organoids related to metabolic diseases in recent years, and looks forward to their prospective applications.

Advances in screening hyperthermic nanomedicines in 3D tumor models

Hyperthermic nanomedicines are particularly relevant for tackling human cancer, providing a valuable alternative to conventional therapeutics. The early-stage preclinical performance evaluation of such anti-cancer treatments is conventionally performed in flat 2D cell cultures that do not mimic the volumetric heat transfer occurring in human tumors. Recently, improvements in bioengineered 3D in vitro models have unlocked the opportunity to recapitulate major tumor microenvironment hallmarks and generate highly informative readouts that can contribute to accelerating the discovery and validation of efficient hyperthermic treatments. Leveraging on this, herein we aim to showcase the potential of engineered physiomimetic 3D tumor models for evaluating the preclinical efficacy of hyperthermic nanomedicines, featuring the main advantages and design considerations under diverse testing scenarios. The most recent applications of 3D tumor models for screening photo- and/or magnetic nanomedicines will be discussed, either as standalone systems or in combinatorial approaches with other anti-cancer therapeutics. We envision that breakthroughs toward developing multi-functional 3D platforms for hyperthermia onset and follow-up will contribute to a more expedited discovery of top-performing hyperthermic therapies in a preclinical setting before their in vivo screening.

Precision treatment in advanced hepatocellular carcinoma

The past decade has witnessed significant advances in the systemic treatment of advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Nevertheless, the newly developed treatment strategies have not achieved universal success and HCC patients frequently exhibit therapeutic resistance to these therapies. Precision treatment represents a paradigm shift in cancer treatment in recent years. This approach utilizes the unique molecular characteristics of individual patient to personalize treatment modalities, aiming to maximize therapeutic efficacy while minimizing side effects. Although precision treatment has shown significant success in multiple cancer types, its application in HCC remains in its infancy. In this review, we discuss key aspects of precision treatment in HCC, including therapeutic biomarkers, molecular classifications, and the heterogeneity of the tumor microenvironment. We also propose future directions, ranging from revolutionizing current treatment methodologies to personalizing therapy through functional assays, which will accelerate the next phase of advancements in this area.

Patient-derived organoids in human cancer: a platform for fundamental research and precision medicine

Cancer is associated with a high degree of heterogeneity, encompassing both inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, along with considerable variability in clinical response to common treatments across patients. Conventional models for tumor research, such as in vitro cell cultures and in vivo animal models, demonstrate significant limitations that fall short of satisfying the research requisites. Patient-derived tumor organoids, which recapitulate the structures, specific functions, molecular characteristics, genomics alterations and expression profiles of primary tumors. They have been efficaciously implemented in illness portrayal, mechanism exploration, high-throughput drug screening and assessment, discovery of innovative therapeutic targets and potential compounds, and customized treatment regimen for cancer patients. In contrast to conventional models, tumor organoids offer an intuitive, dependable, and efficient in vitro research model by conserving the phenotypic, genetic diversity, and mutational attributes of the originating tumor. Nevertheless, the organoid technology also confronts the bottlenecks and challenges, such as how to comprehensively reflect intra-tumor heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment, tumor angiogenesis, reduce research costs, and establish standardized construction processes while retaining reliability. This review extensively examines the use of tumor organoid techniques in fundamental research and precision medicine. It emphasizes the importance of patient-derived tumor organoid biobanks for drug development, screening, safety evaluation, and personalized medicine. Additionally, it evaluates the application of organoid technology as an experimental tumor model to better understand the molecular mechanisms of tumor. The intent of this review is to explicate the significance of tumor organoids in cancer research and to present new avenues for the future of tumor research.

Hydrogel-Embedded Precision-Cut Lung Slices Model Lung Cancer Premalignancy Ex Vivo

Lung cancer is the leading global cause of cancer-related deaths. Although smoking cessation is the best prevention, 50% of lung cancer diagnoses occur in people who have quit smoking. Research into treatment options for high-risk patients is constrained to rodent models, which are time-consuming, expensive, and require large cohorts. Embedding precision-cut lung slices (PCLS) within an engineered hydrogel and exposing this tissue to vinyl carbamate, a carcinogen from cigarette smoke, creates an in vitro model of lung cancer premalignancy. Hydrogel formulations are selected to promote early lung cancer cellular phenotypes and extend PCLS viability to six weeks. Hydrogel-embedded PCLS are exposed to vinyl carbamate, which induces adenocarcinoma in mice. Analysis of proliferation, gene expression, histology, tissue stiffness, and cellular content after six weeks reveals that vinyl carbamate induces premalignant lesions with a mixed adenoma/squamous phenotype. Putative chemoprevention agents diffuse through the hydrogel and induce tissue-level changes. The design parameters selected using murine tissue are validated with hydrogel-embedded human PCLS and results show increased proliferation and premalignant lesion gene expression patterns. This tissue-engineered model of human lung cancer premalignancy is the foundation for more sophisticated ex vivo models that enable the study of carcinogenesis and chemoprevention strategies.

Advances in Thyroid Organoids Research and Applications

INTRODUCTION

Organoids are three-dimensional cellular aggregates derived from stem cells or primary tissues that can self-organize into organotypic structures and showcase the physiological functions of that organ. Organoids typically comprise multiple organ-specific cell types that are responsible for organ function in vivo. They may also incorporate various cellular and molecular stromal components to recapitulate the in vivo microenvironment of the target organ.

METHODS

All articles related to thyroid-like organs were synthesized. Articles published between 1959 and 2023 were assessed, categorized, and analyzed using relevant keywords.

RESULTS

As such, organoids provide a model of greater physiological relevance than 2D cell culture for basic and translational research. Murine and human organoids of the thyroid have been established from embryonic stem cells (ESCs), pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) and from various healthy or diseased thyroid tissues. These thyroid organoids have been used in basic and translation research on thyroid-related diseases including hyperthyroidism, Graves' disease, and Hashimoto's thyroiditis. In addition, organoids derived from patients with thyroid cancer retain histopathological features and mutational profile of the original tumor. These patient-derived organoids have been successfully used in in vitro evaluation of drug response of individual patients, demonstrating their potential application in personalized treatment of thyroid cancer.

CONCLUSION

In this review article, we have discussed various techniques for establishing thyroid organoids and their applications in thyroid-related diseases as disease models, regenerative medicines, or a tool for drug testing.

Urine-derived bladder cancer organoids (urinoids) as a tool for cancer longitudinal response monitoring and therapy adaptation

BACKGROUND

Bladder cancer is one of the most common cancer types worldwide. Generally, research relies on invasive sampling strategies.

METHODS

Here, we generate bladder cancer organoids directly from urine (urinoids). In this project, we establish 12 urinoid lines from 22 patients with non-muscle and muscle-invasive bladder tumours, with an efficiency of 55%.

RESULTS

The histopathological features of the urinoids accurately resemble those of the original bladder tumours. Genetically, there is a high concordance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (92.56%) and insertions & deletions (91.54%) between urinoids and original tumours from patient 4. Furthermore, these urinoids show sensitivity to bladder cancer drugs, similar to their tissue-derived organoid counterparts. Genetic analysis of longitudinally generated tumoroids and urinoids from one patient receiving systemic immunotherapy, identify alterations that may guide the choice for second-line therapy. Successful treatment adaptation was subsequently demonstrated in the urinoid setting.

CONCLUSION

Therefore, urinoids can advance precision medicine in bladder cancer as a non-invasive platform for tumour pathogenesis, longitudinal drug-response monitoring, and therapy adaptation.

Organoids derived from patients provide a new opportunity for research and individualized treatment of malignant peritoneal mesothelioma

BACKGROUND

Malignant peritoneal mesothelioma (MPM) is an extremely rare and highly invasive tumor. Due to the lack of accurate models that reflect the biological characteristics of primary tumors, studying MPM remains challenging and is associated with an exceedingly unfavorable prognosis. This study was aimed to establish a new potential preclinical model for MPM using patient-derived MPM organoids (MPMOs) and to comprehensively evaluate the practicality of this model in medical research and its feasibility in guiding individualized patient treatment.

METHODS

MPMOs were constructed using tumor tissue from MPM patients. Histopathological analysis and whole genome sequencing (WGS) were employed to determine the ability of MPMOs to replicate the original tumor's genetic and histological characteristics. The subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft models were employed to assess the feasibility of establishing an in vivo model of MPM. MPMOs were also used to conduct drug screening and compare the results with retrospective analysis of patients after treatment, in order to evaluate the potential of MPMOs in predicting the effectiveness of drugs in MPM patients.

RESULTS

We successfully established a culture method for human MPM organoids using tumor tissue from MPM patients and provided a comprehensive description of the necessary medium components for MPMOs. Pathological examination and WGS revealed that MPMOs accurately represented the histological characteristics and genomic heterogeneity of the original tumors. In terms of application, the success rate of creating subcutaneous and orthotopic xenograft models using MPMOs was 88% and 100% respectively. Drug sensitivity assays demonstrated that MPMOs have different medication responses, and these differences were compatible with the real situation of the patients.

CONCLUSION

This study presents a method for generating human MPM organoids, which can serve as a valuable research tool and contribute to the advancement of MPM research. Additionally, these organoids can be utilized as a means to evaluate the effectiveness of drug treatments for MPM patients, offering a model for personalized treatment approaches.

A multidimensional platform of patient-derived tumors identifies drug susceptibilities for clinical lenvatinib resistance

Lenvatinib, a second-generation multi-receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitor approved by the FDA for first-line treatment of advanced liver cancer, facing limitations due to drug resistance. Here, we applied a multidimensional, high-throughput screening platform comprising patient-derived resistant liver tumor cells (PDCs), organoids (PDOs), and xenografts (PDXs) to identify drug susceptibilities for conquering lenvatinib resistance in clinically relevant settings. Expansion and passaging of PDCs and PDOs from resistant patient liver tumors retained functional fidelity to lenvatinib treatment, expediting drug repurposing screens. Pharmacological screening identified romidepsin, YM155, apitolisib, NVP-TAE684 and dasatinib as potential antitumor agents in lenvatinib-resistant PDC and PDO models. Notably, romidepsin treatment enhanced antitumor response in syngeneic mouse models by triggering immunogenic tumor cell death and blocking the EGFR signaling pathway. A combination of romidepsin and immunotherapy achieved robust and synergistic antitumor effects against lenvatinib resistance in humanized immunocompetent PDX models. Collectively, our findings suggest that patient-derived liver cancer models effectively recapitulate lenvatinib resistance observed in clinical settings and expedite drug discovery for advanced liver cancer, providing a feasible multidimensional platform for personalized medicine.

Engineering Heterogeneous Tumor Models for Biomedical Applications

Tumor tissue engineering holds great promise for replicating the physiological and behavioral characteristics of tumors in vitro. Advances in this field have led to new opportunities for studying the tumor microenvironment and exploring potential anti-cancer therapeutics. However, the main obstacle to the widespread adoption of tumor models is the poor understanding and insufficient reconstruction of tumor heterogeneity. In this review, the current progress of engineering heterogeneous tumor models is discussed. First, the major components of tumor heterogeneity are summarized, which encompasses various signaling pathways, cell proliferations, and spatial configurations. Then, contemporary approaches are elucidated in tumor engineering that are guided by fundamental principles of tumor biology, and the potential of a bottom-up approach in tumor engineering is highlighted. Additionally, the characterization approaches and biomedical applications of tumor models are discussed, emphasizing the significant role of engineered tumor models in scientific research and clinical trials. Lastly, the challenges of heterogeneous tumor models in promoting oncology research and tumor therapy are described and key directions for future research are provided.

Next-Generation Preclinical Functional Testing Models in Cancer Precision Medicine: CTC-Derived Organoids

Basic and clinical cancer research requires tumor models that consistently recapitulate the characteristics of prima tumors. As ex vivo 3D cultures of patient tumor cells, patient-derived tumor organoids possess the biological properties of primary tumors and are therefore excellent preclinical models for cancer research. Patient-derived organoids can be established using primary tumor tissues, peripheral blood, pleural fluid, ascites, and other samples containing tumor cells. Circulating tumor cells acquired by non-invasive sampling feature dynamic circulation and high heterogeneity. Circulating tumor cell-derived organoids are prospective tools for the dynamic monitoring of tumor mutation evolution profiles because they reflect the heterogeneity of the original tumors to a certain extent. This review discusses the advantages and applications of patient-derived organoids. Meanwhile, this work highlights the biological functions of circulating tumor cells, the latest advancement in research of circulating tumor cell-derived organoids, and potential application and challenges of this technology.

Bioengineering Approaches for the Pancreatic Tumor Organoids Research and Application

Pancreatic cancer is a highly lethal form of digestive malignancy that poses significant health risks to individuals worldwide. Chemotherapy-based comprehensive treatment is the primary therapeutic approach for midlife and late-life patients. Nevertheless, the heterogeneity of the tumor and individual genetic backgrounds result in substantial variations in drug sensitivity among patients, rendering a single treatment regimen unsuitable for all patients. Conventional pancreatic cancer tumor organoid models are capable of emulating the biological traits of pancreatic cancer and are utilized in drug development and screening. However, these tumor organoids can still not mimic the tumor microenvironment (TME) in vivo, and the poor controllability in the preparation process hinders translation from essential drug screening to clinical pharmacological therapy. In recent years, many engineering methods with remarkable results have been used to develop pancreatic cancer organoid models, including bio-hydrogel, co-culture, microfluidic, and gene editing. Here, this work summarizes and analyzes the recent developments in engineering pancreatic tumor organoid models. In addition, the future direction of improving engineered pancreatic cancer organoids is discussed for their application prospects in clinical treatment.

Experimental models for cancer brain metastasis

Brain metastases are a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. However, progress in their treatment has been limited over the past decade, due to an incomplete understanding of the underlying biological mechanisms. Employing accurate in vitro and in vivo models to recapitulate the complexities of brain metastasis offers the most promising approach to unravel the intricate cellular and physiological processes involved. Here, we present a comprehensive review of the currently accessible models for studying brain metastasis. We introduce a diverse array of in vitro and in vivo models, including cultured cells using the Transwell system, organoids, microfluidic models, syngeneic models, xenograft models, and genetically engineered models. We have also provided a concise summary of the merits and limitations inherent to each model while identifying the optimal contexts for their effective utilization. This review serves as a comprehensive resource, aiding researchers in making well-informed decisions regarding model selection that align with specific research questions.

Quantification of cell death and proliferation of patient-derived ovarian cancer organoids through 3D imaging and image analysis

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) are ideal ex vivo model systems to study cancer progression and drug resistance mechanisms. Here, we present a protocol for measuring drug efficacy in three-dimensional (3D) high-grade serous ovarian cancer PDO cultures through quantification of cytotoxicity using propidium iodide incorporation in dead cells. We also provide detailed steps to analyze proliferation of PDOs using the Ki67 biomarker. We describe steps for sample processing, immunofluorescent staining, high-throughput confocal imaging, and image-based quantification for 3D cultures. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Lahtinen et al. (2023).1.

Trellis tree-based analysis reveals stromal regulation of patient-derived organoid drug responses

Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) can model personalized therapy responses; however, current screening technologies cannot reveal drug response mechanisms or how tumor microenvironment cells alter therapeutic performance. To address this, we developed a highly multiplexed mass cytometry platform to measure post-translational modification (PTM) signaling, DNA damage, cell-cycle activity, and apoptosis in >2,500 colorectal cancer (CRC) PDOs and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) in response to clinical therapies at single-cell resolution. To compare patient- and microenvironment-specific drug responses in thousands of single-cell datasets, we developed "Trellis"-a highly scalable, tree-based treatment effect analysis method. Trellis single-cell screening revealed that on-target cell-cycle blockage and DNA-damage drug effects are common, even in chemorefractory PDOs. However, drug-induced apoptosis is rarer, patient-specific, and aligns with cancer cell PTM signaling. We find that CAFs can regulate PDO plasticity-shifting proliferative colonic stem cells (proCSCs) to slow-cycling revival colonic stem cells (revCSCs) to protect cancer cells from chemotherapy.

An Integrative Bioorthogonal Nanoengineering Strategy for Dynamically Constructing Heterogenous Tumor Spheroids

Although tumor models have revolutionized perspectives on cancer aetiology and treatment, current cell culture methods remain challenges in constructing organotypic tumor with in vivo-like complexity, especially native characteristics, leading to unpredictable results for in vivo responses. Herein, the bioorthogonal nanoengineering strategy (BONE) for building photothermal dynamic tumor spheroids is developed. In this process, biosynthetic machinery incorporated bioorthogonal azide reporters into cell surface glycoconjugates, followed by reacting with multivalent click ligand (ClickRod) that is composed of hyaluronic acid-functionalized gold nanorod carrying dibenzocyclooctyne moieties, resulting in rapid construction of tumor spheroids. BONE can effectively assemble different cancer cells and immune cells together to construct heterogenous tumor spheroids is identified. Particularly, ClickRod exhibited favorable photothermal activity, which precisely promoted cell activity and shaped physiological microenvironment, leading to formation of dynamic features of original tumor, such as heterogeneous cell population and pluripotency, different maturation levels, and physiological gradients. Importantly, BONE not only offered a promising platform for investigating tumorigenesis and therapeutic response, but also improved establishment of subcutaneous xenograft model under mild photo-stimulation, thereby significantly advancing cancer research. Therefore, the first bioorthogonal nanoengineering strategy for developing dynamic tumor models, which have the potential for bridging gaps between in vitro and in vivo research is presented.

Sesamol serves as a p53 stabilizer to relieve rheumatoid arthritis progression and inhibits the growth of synovial organoids

BACKGROUND

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an autoimmune disease known as a leading cause of disability with considerable mortality. Developing alternative drugs and targets for RA treatment is an urgent issue. Sesamol is a phenolic compound isolated from natural food sesame (Sesamum indicum L.) with various biological activities.

PURPOSE

The current research intended to illuminate the bioactivity and mechanisms of sesamol in RA fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLS), and aimed to estimate the potential clinical application value of sesamol in RA treatment.

METHODS

CCK-8, EdU, and flow cytometry assays, as well as transwell tests were applied to observe the effects of sesamol on the abnormal functions of RA-FLS. Moreover, synovial organoids and a collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mouse model were constructed to further explore the therapeutic capacity of sesamol on RA. Furthermore, RNA sequencing combined with quantitative real-time PCR assay, Western blot as well as co-immunoprecipitation were employed to clarify the mechanism of sesamol in regulating RA progression.

RESULTS

Sesamol suppressed the proliferation through inhibiting DNA replication, triggering cell cycle arrest and apoptosis of RA-FLS. Besides, sesamol impaired RA-FLS migration and invasion. Interestingly, sesamol inhibited the growth of constructed synovial organoids and alleviated RA symptoms in CIA mice. Moreover, RNA sequencing further implicated p53 signaling as a downstream pathway of sesamol. Furthermore, sesamol was shown to decrease p53 ubiquitination and degradation, thereby activating p53 signaling. Finally, bioinformatics analyses also highlighted the importance of sesamol-regulated networks in the progression of RA.

CONCLUSIONS

Our investigation demonstrated that sesamol served as a novel p53 stabilizer to attenuate the abnormal functions of RA-FLS via facilitating the activation of p53 signaling. Moreover, our study highlighted that sesamol might be an effective lead compound or candidate drug and p53 could be a promising target for the therapy of RA.

Tamoxifen induces ferroptosis in MCF-7 organoid

BACKGROUND

Breast cancer is the most common female malignant tumor type globally. The occurrence and development of breast cancer involve ferroptosis, which is closely related to its treatment. The development of breast cancer organoids facilitates the analysis of breast cancer molecular background and tumor biological behavior, including clinical pathological characteristics, drug response, or drug resistance relationship, and promotes the advancement of precision treatment for breast cancer. The three-dimensional (3D) cell culture of breast cancer MCF-7 organoid is more similar to the in vivo environment and thus obtains more realistic results than 2D cell culture. Our study examined the new mechanism of tamoxifen in treating breast cancer through breast cancer MCF-7 organoids.

METHODS

We used 3D cells to culture breast cancer MCF-7 organoid, as well as tamoxifen-treated MCF-7 and tamoxifen-resistant MCF-7 (MCF-7 TAMR) cells. We used transcriptome sequencing. We detected GPX4 and SLC7A11 protein levels using Western blotting and the content of ATP, glutathione, and ferrous ions using the Cell Counting Lite 3D Kit. We assessed cell viability using the Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) assay.

RESULTS

Tamoxifen significantly inhibited the growth of MCF-7 organoids and significantly induced ferroptosis in MCF-7 organoids. The ferroptosis inhibitor reversed the significant tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 organoid inhibition activity. Moreover, the ferroptosis activator enhanced the tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 TAMR cell activity inhibition.

CONCLUSION

Our study revealed that ferroptosis plays an important role in tamoxifen-induced MCF-7 organoid cell death and provides a new research idea for precise treatment of breast cancer through an organoid model.

3D bioprinted breast tumor-stroma models for pre-clinical drug testing

The use of three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting has been proposed for the reproducible production of 3D disease models that can be used for high-throughput drug testing and personalized medicine. However, most such models insufficiently reproduce the features and environment of real tumors. We report the development of bioprinted in vitro 3D tumor models for breast cancer, which physically and biochemically mimic important aspects of the native tumor microenvironment, designed to study therapeutic efficacy. By combining a mix of breast decellularized extracellular matrix and methacrylated hyaluronic acid with tumor-derived cells and non-cancerous stromal cells of biological relevance to breast cancer, we show that biological signaling pathways involved in tumor progression can be replicated in a carefully designed tumor-stroma environment. Finally, we demonstrate proof-of-concept application of these models as a reproducible platform for investigating therapeutic responses to commonly used chemotherapeutic agents.

The potential of patient-derived organoids in precision medicine of biliary tract cancer

Chemotherapy resistance in biliary tract cancer (BTC) presents a major clinical hurdle. Ren et al.1 developed and characterized an extensive collection of BTC patient-derived organoid (PDO) models, enabling advanced investigation of chemotherapy response prediction.

Personalized drug screening in patient-derived organoids of biliary tract cancer and its clinical application

Patients with biliary tract cancer (BTC) show different responses to chemotherapy, and there is no effective way to predict chemotherapeutic response. We have generated 61 BTC patient-derived organoids (PDOs) from 82 tumors (74.4%) that show similar histological and genetic characteristics to the corresponding primary BTC tissues. BTC tumor tissues with enhanced stemness- and proliferation-related gene expression by RNA sequencing can more easily form organoids. As expected, BTC PDOs show different responses to the chemotherapies of gemcitabine, cisplatin, 5-fluoruracil, oxaliplatin, etc. The drug screening results in PDOs are further validated in PDO-based xenografts and confirmed in 92.3% (12/13) of BTC patients with actual clinical response. Moreover, we have identified gene expression signatures of BTC PDOs with different drug responses and established gene expression panels to predict chemotherapy response in BTC patients. In conclusion, BTC PDO is a promising precision medicine tool for anti-cancer therapy in BTC patients.

Modeling Liver Development and Disease in a Dish

Historically, biological research has relied primarily on animal models. While this led to the understanding of numerous human biological processes, inherent species-specific differences make it difficult to answer certain liver-related developmental and disease-specific questions. The advent of 3D organoid models that are either derived from pluripotent stem cells or generated from healthy or diseased tissue-derived stem cells have made it possible to recapitulate the biological aspects of human organs. Organoid technology has been instrumental in understanding the disease mechanism and complements animal models. This review underscores the advances in organoid technology and specifically how liver organoids are used to better understand human-specific biological processes in development and disease. We also discuss advances made in the application of organoid models in drug screening and personalized medicine.

Antitumor effect of luteolin proven by patient-derived organoids of gastric cancer

Luteolin (Lut) has been shown to inhibit gastric cancer (GC); however, its efficacy compared to other clinical drugs has not been examined in human samples. This study aimed to elucidate the antitumor activity of Lut in GC patient-derived organoids (PDOs). PDOs were established from GC cancer tissues, and the characterization of tissues and PDOs was performed using whole-exome sequencing. Drug sensitivity tests were performed by treating PDOs with Lut, norcantharidin (NCTD), and carboplatin (CP). RNA sequencing of PDOs was performed to elucidate the antitumor mechanism of Lut, which was further verified in three GC cell lines. Eleven PDOs were successfully constructed, and were highly consistent with the pathophysiology and genetic changes in the corresponding tumors. The IC50s of Lut, NCTD, and CP of PDOs were 27.19, 23.9, and 37.87 μM, respectively. Lut treatment upregulated FOXO3, DUSP1, and CDKN1A expression and downregulated IL1R1 and FGFR4 expression in GC cell lines, which was consistent with the results of PDOs. We demonstrate that Lut exerted stronger antitumor effects than CP, but a similar effect to that of NCTD, which was obtained in an in vitro PDO system. Additionally, Lut exerted varying degrees of antitumor effects against the PDOs, thereby indicating that PDO may be a useful preclinical drug screening tool for personalized treatment.

A human mucosal melanoma organoid platform for modeling tumor heterogeneity and exploring immunotherapy combination options

Mucosal melanoma (MM), an aggressive rare subtype of melanoma, is distinct from cutaneous melanoma and has poor prognoses. We addressed the lack of cell models for MM by establishing 30 organoids of human oral MM (OMM), which retained major histopathological and functional features of parental tumors. Organoid groups derived from chronologically or intratumorally distinct lesions within the same individual displayed heterogeneous genetics, expression profiles, and drug responses, indicating rapid tumor evolution and poor clinical response. Furthermore, transcriptome analysis revealed receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) signaling, particularly NGFR, a nerve growth factor receptor, was significantly up-regulated in OMMs and organoids from patients resistant to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) therapy. Combining anti-PD-1 with anlotinib (a phase 2 multitarget RTK inhibitor for OMM) or NGFR knockdown enhanced the effective activity of immune cells in organoid-immune cell coculture systems. Together, our study suggested that OMM organoids serve as faithful models for exploring tumor evolution and immunotherapy combination strategies.

Embedded Bioprinting of Breast Tumor Cells and Organoids Using Low-Concentration Collagen-Based Bioinks

Bioinks for 3D bioprinting of tumor models should not only meet printability requirements but also accurately maintain and support phenotypes of tumor surrounding cells to recapitulate key tumor hallmarks. Collagen is a major extracellular matrix protein for solid tumors, but low viscosity of collagen solution has made 3D bioprinted cancer models challenging. This work produces embedded, bioprinted breast cancer cells and tumor organoid models using low-concentration collagen I based bioinks. The biocompatible and physically crosslinked silk fibroin hydrogel is used to generate the support bath for the embedded 3D printing. The composition of the collagen I based bioink is optimized with a thermoresponsive hyaluronic acid-based polymer to maintain the phenotypes of both the noninvasive epithelial and invasive breast cancer cells, as well as cancer-associated fibroblasts. Mouse breast tumor organoids are bioprinted using optimized collagen bioink to mimic in vivo tumor morphology. A vascularized tumor model is also created using a similar strategy, with significantly enhanced vasculature formation under hypoxia. This study shows the great potential of embedded bioprinted breast tumor models utilizing a low-concentration collagen-based bioink for advancing the understanding of tumor cell biology and facilitating drug discovery research.