Generation of Tumor-Reactive T Cells by Co-culture of Peripheral Blood Lymphocytes and Tumor Organoids

Tumor organoids in cancer medicine: from model systems to natural compound screening

CONTEXT

The advent of tissue engineering and biomedical techniques has significantly advanced the development of three-dimensional (3D) cell culture systems, particularly tumor organoids. These self-assembled 3D cell clusters closely replicate the histopathological, genetic, and phenotypic characteristics of primary tissues, making them invaluable tools in cancer research and drug screening.

OBJECTIVE

This review addresses the challenges in developing in vitro models that accurately reflect tumor heterogeneity and explores the application of tumor organoids in cancer research, with a specific focus on the screening of natural products for antitumor therapies.

METHODS

This review synthesizes information from major databases, including Chemical Abstracts, Medicinal and Aromatic Plants Abstracts, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, Scopus, PubMed and Springer Link. Publications were selected without date restrictions, using terms such as 'organoid', 'natural product', 'pharmacological', 'extract', 'nanomaterial' and 'traditional uses'. Articles related to agriculture, ecology, synthetic work or published in languages other than English were excluded.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The review identifies key challenges related to the efficiency and variability of organoid generation and discusses ongoing efforts to enhance their predictive capabilities in drug screening and personalized medicine. Recent studies utilizing patient-derived organoid models for natural compound screening are highlighted, demonstrating the potential of these models in developing new classes of anticancer agents. The integration of natural products with patient-derived organoid models presents a promising approach for discovering novel anticancer compounds and elucidating their mechanisms of action.

Current applications, future Perspectives and challenges of Organoid technology in oral cancer research

Oral cancer poses significant health risks with an increasing incidence annually. Despite advancements in treatment methods, their efficacy is frequently constrained by cancer heterogeneity and drug resistance, leading to minimal improvement in the 5-year survival rate. Therefore, there is a critical need for new treatment methods leaded by representative preclinical research models. Compared to other models, organoids can more precisely simulate the tissue structure, genetic characteristics, and tumor microenvironment (TME) of in vivo tumors, exhibiting high tumor specificity. This makes organoid technology a valuable tool in investigating tumor development, mechanisms of metastasis, drug screening, prediction of clinical responses, and personalized patient treatment. Moreover, integrating organoid technology with other biotechnologies could expand its applications in tissue regeneration. Although organoid technology is increasingly utilized in oral cancer research, a systematic review in this field is absent. This paper is to bridge the gap by reviewing the development and current status of organoid research, highlighting its applications, future prospects, and challenges in oral cancer. It aims to provide novel insights into the role of organoids in precision treatment and regenerative medicine for oral cancer.

Establishment and characterisation of a novel canine mast cell tumour cell line (C18)

BACKGROUND

Mast cell tumour (MCT) is a life-threatening neoplasm commonly found in dogs worldwide. The outcome of treatment for dogs with cutaneous MCT is currently poor, mainly because of the tumour's aggressiveness and the heterogeneity in tumour behaviour. This study established a novel canine MCT cell line and compared with three reference canine MCT cell lines (CMMC, VIMC and CoMS) in terms of their characteristics and tumour sensitivity to immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity.

RESULTS

Of 18 MCT samples, only one cell line derived from high grade cutaneous MCT was established and referred to as C18 cell line. The C18 cell line could be maintained for over 100 passages while they still exhibited c-kit, tryptase, FcεRIα and FcεRIβ expression. The C18 had the longest doubling time and smallest tumour spheroid size when compared to the other three reference cell lines. The C18 also had c-kit internal tandem duplication (ITD) in exon 11 and nine single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in five genes, namely c-kit, HYAL4, SEL1L, SPAM1 and TRAF3. For a comparison of tumour sensitivity to immune cell-mediated cytotoxicity, the percentages of early and total apoptotic cells were significantly increased in all four cell lines. However, the percentages of viable cells were significantly decreased only in C18.

CONCLUSION

In conclusion, a novel canine cutaneous MCT cell line was successfully established, in terms of its characteristics, growth behavior and interaction with PBMCs. The C18 cell line holds a potential promise for advancing studies and developing new therapeutic strategies.

Intestinal organoid coculture systems: current approaches, challenges, and future directions

The intestinal microenvironment represents a complex and dynamic ecosystem, comprising a diverse range of epithelial and nonepithelial cells, a protective mucus layer, and a diverse community of gut microbiota. Understanding the intricate interplay between these components is essential for uncovering the mechanisms underlying intestinal health and disease. The development of intestinal organoids, three-dimensional (3-D) mini-intestines that closely mimic the architecture, cellular diversity, and functionality of the intestine, offers a powerful platform for investigating different aspects of intestinal physiology and pathology. However, current intestinal organoid models, mainly adult stem cell-derived organoids, lack the nonepithelial and microbial components of the intestinal microenvironment. As such, several coculture systems have been developed to coculture intestinal organoids with other intestinal elements including microbes (bacteria and viruses) and immune, stromal, and neural cells. These coculture models allow researchers to recreate the complex intestinal environment and study the intricate cross talk between different components of the intestinal ecosystem under healthy and pathological conditions. Currently, there are several approaches and methodologies to establish intestinal organoid cocultures, and each approach has its own strengths and limitations. This review discusses the existing methods for coculturing intestinal organoids with different intestinal elements, focusing on the methodological approaches, strengths and limitations, and future directions.

Finding a needle in a haystack: functional screening for novel targets in cancer immunology and immunotherapies

Genome-wide functional genetic screening has been widely used in the biomedicine field, which makes it possible to find a needle in a haystack at the genetic level. In cancer research, gene mutations are closely related to tumor development, metastasis, and recurrence, and the use of state-of-the-art powerful screening technologies, such as clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeat (CRISPR), to search for the most critical genes or coding products provides us with a new possibility to further refine the cancer mapping and provide new possibilities for the treatment of cancer patients. The use of CRISPR screening for the most critical genes or coding products has further refined the cancer atlas and provided new possibilities for the treatment of cancer patients. Immunotherapy, as a highly promising cancer treatment method, has been widely validated in the clinic, but it could only meet the needs of a small proportion of cancer patients. Finding new immunotherapy targets is the key to the future of tumor immunotherapy. Here, we revisit the application of functional screening in cancer immunology from different perspectives, from the selection of diverse in vitro and in vivo screening models to the screening of potential immune checkpoints and potentiating genes for CAR-T cells. The data will offer fresh therapeutic clues for cancer patients.

USP19 deficiency enhances T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity by promoting PD-L1 degradation in colorectal cancer

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is characterized by a highly immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment, which limits the effectiveness of current immunotherapies. Identifying strategies to overcome this resistance is critical for improving treatment outcomes. In this study, we discovered that USP19 plays a pivotal role in regulating T-cell-mediated antitumor immunity through a CRISPR/Cas9 sgRNA library screen and co-culture assays with activated T cells. We demonstrated that USP19 deficiency significantly enhances the susceptibility to T cell-mediated cytotoxicity in CRC cells, organoids, and mouse models. Transcriptomic sequencing (RNA-seq) revealed activation of the PD-1 pathway in tumor with USP19-deficiency cells. Mechanistic investigations revealed that USP19 directly stabilizes PD-L1 by binding to its intracellular domain and preventing its degradation via K48-linked ubiquitination and proteasomal pathways. Clinically, USP19 expression was found to be significantly elevated in CRC tissues and was positively associated with PD-L1 levels, advanced tumor grade, poor differentiation, and TP53 mutations, highlighting its potential as a biomarker for aggressive CRC. Importantly, in vivo experiments demonstrated that targeting USP19, in combination with αPD-L1 therapy, synergistically suppressed CRC progression. This combination not only reduced PD-L1 levels but also enhanced CD8+ T-cell activation and GzmB infiltration, resulting in robust antitumor effects. These findings establish USP19 as a key driver of immune evasion in CRC and suggest that targeting USP19 could enhance the efficacy of immunotherapy, providing a promising new avenue for CRC treatment.

Combining molecular characteristics and therapeutic analysis of PDOs predict clinical responses and guide PDAC personalized treatment

BACKGROUND

The emergence of targeted therapies and immunotherapy has broadened treatment options for patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC). Despite this, traditional drug selection, predominantly relies on tumor markers and clinical staging, has underutilized these drugs due to ignoring patient genomic diversity. Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) and corresponding patient-derived organoid xenograft (PDOX) models offer a way to better understand and address this.

METHODS

In this study, we established PDOs and PDOX models from PDAC clinical samples. These models were analyzed using immunohistochemistry, H&E staining, and genomic profiling. Drug screening with 111 FDA-approved drugs was performed on PDOs, and drug responses in PDOs and PDOX models were compared to assess consistency with clinical treatment outcomes. Gene analysis was conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying variations in drug responses. Additionally, by analyzing the sequencing results from various drug-sensitive groups, the identified differential gene-drug metabolism gene UGT1A10 were modulated in PDOs to evaluate its impact on drug efficacy. A co-culture system of PDOs with immune cells was developed to study the efficacy of immunotherapies.

RESULTS

PDOs and matched PDOX models retain the morphological, biological, and genomic characteristics of the primary tumor. Exome sequencing and RNA sequencing confirmed both the consistency and heterogeneity among the PDOs. High-throughput drug screening revealed significant variability in drug sensitivity across different organoids, yet PDOs and PDOX derived from the same patient exhibited a high degree of concordance in response to clinical chemotherapy agents. The gene expression analysis of PDOs with significant differences in drug sensitivity revealed UGT1A10 as a crucial regulator. The knockdown of UGT1A10 notably increased drug sensitivity. Furthermore, immune cells demonstrated specific cytotoxicity towards the organoids, underscoring the potential of the co-culture system for application in tumor immunotherapy.

CONCLUSION

Our results highlight the necessity for personalized treatment strategies that consider genomic diversity beyond tumor markers, thus validating the utility of PDOs and PDOX models in advancing PDAC research and personalized medicine.

Organoids from pluripotent stem cells and human tissues: When two cultures meet each other

Human organoids are a widely used tool in cell biology to study homeostatic processes, disease, and development. The term organoids covers a plethora of model systems from different cellular origins that each have unique features and applications but bring their own challenges. This review discusses the basic principles underlying organoids generated from pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) as well as those derived from tissue stem cells (TSCs). We consider how well PSC- and TSC-organoids mimic the different intended organs in terms of cellular complexity, maturity, functionality, and the ongoing efforts to constitute predictive complex models of in vivo situations. We discuss the advantages and limitations associated with each system to answer different biological questions including in the field of cancer and developmental biology, and with respect to implementing emerging advanced technologies, such as (spatial) -omics analyses, CRISPR screens, and high-content imaging screens. We postulate how the two fields may move forward together, integrating advantages of one to the other.

Individualized tumor-reactive T cells exhibit a potent anti-tumor response in prostate cancer

BACKGROUND

Cellular immunotherapy exhibits promise in treating blood tumors. However, its application for solid tumors is impeded by their heterogeneity and complex microenvironments. The development of individualized multitarget therapy may be the key to overcoming the challenge of tumor heterogeneity.

METHODS

To generate tumor-reactive T cells, we modified the conditional reprogramming primary cell culture method by to establish a primary prostate cancer cell culture approach, refer to as eCR (enhanced conditional reprogramming). Then, Tumor tissue-derived primary cells were physically lysed and loaded into dendric cells, which, in turn, were co-cultured with peripheral blood T cells to induced individualized tumor-reactive T cells.

RESULTS

Our improved culture method could use a small amount of fresh or frozen tumor specimens (including biopsy specimens), which can be amplified in vitro while maintaining their original characteristics, without contamination by heterologous antigens. Furthermore, a series of in vitro and in vivo experiments revealed these tumor-reactive T cells exhibited specific and effective killing of tumor cells through their ability to recognize neoantigens in cancer.

CONCLUSION

In this study, we developed a protocol for the generation of tumor-responsive T cells based on autologous tumor antigens in patients with prostate cancer. This platform is characterized by its multitargeted, individualized, affordability, and minimal adverse effects, holding significant promise in the treatment of prostate cancer as well as other solid tumors.

Tumor-derived colorectal cancer organoids induce a unique Treg cell population by directing CD4+ T cell differentiation

In colorectal cancer (CRC), increased numbers of tumor-infiltrating CD4+ regulatory T (Treg) cells correlate with tumor development, immunotherapy failure, and poor prognosis. To assess how CRC tumors directly modulate Treg cell differentiation, we developed an in vitro co-culture system using CD4+ T cells from Foxp3eGFP mice and CRC tumor-derived organoids. Co-culture resulted in a significant increase in Treg cell numbers. RNA-sequencing identified a distinct transcriptional profile of CRC organoid-induced Treg cells, with upregulation of genes associated with CRC Treg cells in vivo. High expression of genes upregulated in CRC organoid-induced Treg cells correlates with shorter progression-free intervals and overall survival in CRC patients. Human CRC organoids similarly induced Treg cells with enhanced suppressive capacity and upregulated genes linked to CRC Treg cells in vivo. This model provides insights into how CRC tumors modulate CD4+ T cell differentiation and can identify approaches to disrupt Treg cells and stimulate anti-tumor immunity.

Human-correlated genetic models identify precision therapy for liver cancer

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of primary liver cancer, is a leading cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide1,2. HCC occurs typically from a background of chronic liver disease, caused by a spectrum of predisposing conditions. Tumour development is driven by the expansion of clones that accumulate progressive driver mutations3, with hepatocytes the most likely cell of origin2. However, the landscape of driver mutations in HCC is broadly independent of the underlying aetiologies4. Despite an increasing range of systemic treatment options for advanced HCC, outcomes remain heterogeneous and typically poor. Emerging data suggest that drug efficacies depend on disease aetiology and genetic alterations5,6. Exploring subtypes in preclinical models with human relevance will therefore be essential to advance precision medicine in HCC7. Here we generated a suite of genetically driven immunocompetent in vivo and matched in vitro HCC models. Our models represent multiple features of human HCC, including clonal origin, histopathological appearance and metastasis. We integrated transcriptomic data from the mouse models with human HCC data and identified four common human-mouse subtype clusters. The subtype clusters had distinct transcriptomic characteristics that aligned with the human histopathology. In a proof-of-principle analysis, we verified response to standard-of-care treatment and used a linked in vitro-in vivo pipeline to identify a promising therapeutic candidate, cladribine, that has not previously been linked to HCC treatment. Cladribine acts in a highly effective subtype-specific manner in combination with standard-of-care therapy.

Highlighting recent achievements to advance more effective cancer immunotherapy

From 17 to 19th October 2024, the XXI Italian Network for Bio-Immunotherapy of Tumors Meeting (NIBIT) took place in Palermo, in the marvelous historical location of Teatro Politeama, under the auspices of the Italian Association of Medical Oncology (AIOM), Italian Association of Cancer Research (AIRC), Fondazione Pezcoller, Italian Alliance against Cancer (ACC), Italian Lymphoma Foundation (FIL), Grazia Focacci Foundation and Melagioco Foundation. The conference covered a spectrum of topics ranging from target discovery to therapeutic advances in immuno-oncology, bringing world-renowned experts to present groundbreaking innovations in basic, translational, and clinical cancer research. Six sessions focused on cellular therapies, digital pathology, vaccines, tertiary lymphoid structures, and microenvironment in order to get deep insights on how to personalize diagnosis and therapies in the clinical setting. Young investigators had the opportunity to meet and greet their mentors, promoting the synergy of the academic and industrial sectors within the national and international panorama, discussing the application of artificial intelligence on multi-specific antibodies, drug conjugates, and antibody fusion proteins that are advancing the efficacy of precision medicine and minimizing off-target effects.

The PENDOR study: establishment of a panel of patient-derived tumor organoids from endometrial cancer to assess efficacy of PARP inhibitors

BACKGROUND

Combination of chemotherapy and immunotherapy is the current standard of care for advanced endometrial cancer. However, survival outcome remains poor, highlighting the urgent need for new treatments and reliable tools to identify patients who will benefit from them. Patient-Derived Tumor Organoids (PDTO) are three-dimensional structures established from patient tumors, and are closely mimicking the features of the tumor of origin. Moreover, more and more evidences show that PTDOs hold promises as predictive tools for the response to treatment of patients.

METHOD

The PENDOR study is a monocentric observational study designed to assess the feasibility of generating and testing PDTOs derived from endometrial cancer for evaluating treatment sensitivity. PDTOS will be established from surgical specimens not required for anatomopathological diagnosis. Tumor cells will be dissociated, embedded in extracellular matrix, and cultured in a medium supplemented with growth factors and signaling pathways inhibitors. Molecular and histological analyses will be conducted to validate the resemblance of PDTO to the original tumor. Response of PDTO to conventional chemotherapy and PARP inhibitors will be evaluated and compared to clinical response and to the results of an academic HRD test Genomic Instability Scar (GIScar), respectively, to assess their predictive value.

DISCUSSION

This pilot study aims to validate the feasibility to develop PDTOs from endometrial cancer from patients who will undergo surgical resection. We aim to provide a proof of concept regarding the predictive value of these models for their potential application into routine clinical practice as part of precision medicine. This approach could therefore facilitate the identification of patients who could benefit from PARP inhibitors.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

This clinical trial (N°ID-RCB: 2024-A01206-41) has been validated by local research ethic committee on July 16th 2024 and registered at ClinicalTrials.gov with the identifier NCT06603506 on September 6th 2024, version 1.

Mouse colorectal cancer organoids: Lessons from syngeneic and orthotopic transplantation systems

Colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids provide more accurate and tissue-relevant models compared to conventional two-dimensional cultured cell cultures. Mouse CRC organoids, in particular, offer unique advantages over their human counterparts, as they can be transplanted into immunocompetent mice. These syngeneic transplantation models create a robust system for studying cancer biology in the immunocompetent tumor microenvironment (TME). This article discusses the development and applications of these organoid systems, emphasizing their capacity to faithfully recapitulate in vivo tumor progression, metastasis, and the immune landscape.

TBK1 Targeting Is Identified as a Therapeutic Strategy to Enhance CAR T-Cell Efficacy Using Patient-Derived Organotypic Tumor Spheroids

Novel therapeutic strategies are needed to improve the efficacy of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cells as a treatment of solid tumors. Multiple tumor microenvironmental factors are thought to contribute to resistance to CAR T-cell therapy in solid tumors, and appropriate model systems to identify and examine these factors using clinically relevant biospecimens are limited. In this study, we examined the activity of B7-H3-directed CAR T cells (B7-H3.CAR-T) using 3D microfluidic cultures of patient-derived organotypic tumor spheroids (PDOTS) and then confirmed the activity of B7-H3.CAR T cells in PDOTS. Although B7-H3 expression in PDOTS was associated with B7-H3.CAR-T sensitivity, mechanistic studies revealed dynamic upregulation of co-inhibitory receptors on CAR T-cells following target cell encounter that led to CAR T-cell dysfunction and limited efficacy against B7-H3-expressing tumors. PD-1 blockade restored CAR T-cell activity in monotypic and organotypic tumor spheroids with improved tumor control and upregulation of effector cytokines. Given the emerging role of TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) as an immune evasion gene, we examined the effect of TBK1 inhibition on CAR T-cell efficacy. Similar to PD-1 blockade, TBK1 inhibition restored CAR T-cell activity in monotypic and organotypic tumor spheroids, prevented CAR T-cell dysfunction, and enhanced CAR T-cell proliferation. Inhibition or deletion of TBK1 also enhanced the sensitivity of cancer cells to immune-mediated killing. Taken together, our results demonstrate the feasibility and utility of ex vivo profiling of CAR T cells using PDOTS and suggest that targeting TBK1 could be used to enhance CAR T-cell efficacy by overcoming tumor-intrinsic and -extrinsic resistance mechanisms.

Clinical applications of human organoids

Organoids are innovative three-dimensional and self-organizing cell cultures of various lineages that can be used to study diverse tissues and organs. Human organoids have dramatically increased our understanding of developmental and disease biology. They provide a patient-specific model to study known diseases, with advantages over animal models, and can also provide insights into emerging and future health threats related to climate change, zoonotic infections, environmental pollutants or even microgravity during space exploration. Furthermore, organoids show potential for regenerative cell therapies and organ transplantation. Still, several challenges for broad clinical application remain, including inefficiencies in initiation and expansion, increasing model complexity and difficulties with upscaling clinical-grade cultures and developing more organ-specific human tissue microenvironments. To achieve the full potential of organoid technology, interdisciplinary efforts are needed, integrating advances from biology, bioengineering, computational science, ethics and clinical research. In this Review, we showcase pivotal achievements in epithelial organoid research and technologies and provide an outlook for the future of organoids in advancing human health and medicine.

OrganoIDNet: a deep learning tool for identification of therapeutic effects in PDAC organoid-PBMC co-cultures from time-resolved imaging data

PURPOSE

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) remains a challenging disease due to its complex biology and aggressive behavior with an urgent need for efficient therapeutic strategies. To assess therapy response, pre-clinical PDAC organoid-based models in combination with accurate real-time monitoring are required.

METHODS

We established stable live-imaging organoid/peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) co-cultures and introduced OrganoIDNet, a deep-learning-based algorithm, capable of analyzing bright-field images of murine and human patient-derived PDAC organoids acquired with live-cell imaging. We investigated the response to the chemotherapy gemcitabine in PDAC organoids and the PD-L1 inhibitor Atezolizumab, cultured with or without HLA-matched PBMCs over time. Results obtained with OrganoIDNet were validated with the endpoint proliferation assay CellTiter-Glo.

RESULTS

Live cell imaging in combination with OrganoIDNet accurately detected size-specific drug responses of organoids to gemcitabine over time, showing that large organoids were more prone to cytotoxic effects. This approach also allowed distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy status and measuring eccentricity as organoids' reaction to therapy. Furthermore, imaging of a new organoids/PBMCs sandwich-based co-culture enabled longitudinal analysis of organoid responses to Atezolizumab, showing an increased potency of PBMCs tumor-killing in an organoid-individual manner when Atezolizumab was added.

CONCLUSION

Optimized PDAC organoid imaging analyzed by OrganoIDNet represents a platform capable of accurately detecting organoid responses to standard PDAC chemotherapy over time. Moreover, organoid/immune cell co-cultures allow monitoring of organoid responses to immunotherapy, offering dynamic insights into treatment behavior within a co-culture setting with PBMCs. This setup holds promise for real-time assessment of immunotherapeutic effects in individual patient-derived PDAC organoids.

Evaluation of Multispecific Drugs Based on Patient-Derived Immunocompetent Tumor Organoids

The evolution of antitumor drug development has transitioned from single-agent chemotherapy to targeted therapy, immunotherapy, and more recently, multispecific drugs. These innovative drugs target multiple cellular or molecular pathways simultaneously, offering a more comprehensive anticancer approach and addressing some of the limitations inherent in traditional monotherapies. However, preclinical assessment of multispecific drugs remains challenging, as conventional tumor models often lack the necessary complexity to accurately reflect the interactions between various cell types and targets. Patient-derived immunocompetent tumor organoids (PDITOs), which incorporate both tumor cells and immune cells, present a promising platform for the evaluation of these drugs. Beyond their use in drug evaluation, PDITOs can also be utilized in personalized drug screening and predicting patient-specific treatment outcomes, thus advancing both multispecific drug development and precision medicine. This perspective discusses the current landscape of multispecific drug development and the methodologies for constructing PDITOs. It also addresses the associated challenges and introduces the concept of employing these organoids to optimize the evaluation and rational design of multispecific drug therapies.

Long-term maintenance of patient-specific characteristics in tumoroids from six cancer indications

Tumoroids, sometimes referred to as cancer organoids, are patient-derived cancer cells grown as 3D, self-organized multicellular structures that maintain key characteristics (e.g., genotype, gene expression levels) of the tumor from which they originated. These models have emerged as valuable tools for studying tumor biology, cytotoxicity, and response of patient-derived cells to cancer therapies. However, the establishment and maintenance of tumoroids has historically been challenging, labor intensive, and highly variable from lab to lab, hindering their widespread use. Here, we characterize the establishment and/or expansion of colorectal, lung, head and neck, breast, pancreas, and endometrial tumoroids using the standardized, serum-free Gibco OncoPro Tumoroid Culture Medium. Newly derived tumoroid lines (n = 20) were analyzed by targeted genomic profiling and RNA sequencing and were representative of tumor tissue samples. Tumoroid lines were stable for over 250 days in culture and freeze-thaw competent. Previously established tumoroid lines were also transitioned to OncoPro medium and exhibited, on average, similar growth rates and conserved donor-specific characteristics when compared to original media systems. Additionally, OncoPro medium was compatible with both embedded culture in extracellular matrix and growth in a suspension format for facile culture and scale up. An example application of these models for assessing the cytotoxicity of a natural killer cell line and primary natural killer cells over time and at various doses demonstrated the compatibility of these models with assays used in compound and cell therapy development. We anticipate that the standardization and versatility of this approach will have important benefits for basic cancer research, drug discovery, and personalized medicine and help make tumoroid models more accessible to the cancer research community.

Boosting human immunology: harnessing the potential of immune organoids

Studying the human immune system in vivo is challenging and often not possible. Therefore, most human immunology studies have been predominantly confined to peripheral blood analyses, which by themselves have inherent limitations, as many immune reactions take place within tissues. For example, potent antibody responses that contribute to fighting infections and provide protection following vaccination require cellular interactions between B cells and T cells in specialized micro-anatomical structures called germinal centers, which are found in secondary lymphoid organs such as spleen, lymph nodes, and tonsils. Thus, there is a clear demand for novel enhanced experimental systems that faithfully recapitulate the intricate dynamics of the human immune system as much as possible. In this review, we discuss recent advances in versatile human tonsil/adenoid tissue-based ex vivo immune organoid cultures as well as related cancer and autoimmunity-focused experimental setups. These systems have been implemented as translational immunology platforms for in-depth analyses of human B and T cell-mediated immune responses, thereby facilitating mechanistic studies as well as drug and vaccine testing in a human-first approach.

Identification and validation of a T cell receptor targeting KRAS G12V in HLA-A*11:01 pancreatic cancer patients

T cells targeting a KRAS mutation can induce durable tumor regression in some patients with metastatic epithelial cancer. It is unknown whether T cells targeting mutant KRAS that are capable of killing tumor cells can be identified from peripheral blood of patients with pancreatic cancer. We developed an in vitro stimulation approach and identified HLA-A*11:01-restricted KRAS G12V-reactive CD8+ T cells and HLA-DRB1*15:01-restricted KRAS G12V-reactive CD4+ T cells from peripheral blood of 2 out of 6 HLA-A*11:01-positive patients with pancreatic cancer whose tumors expressed KRAS G12V. The HLA-A*11:01-restricted KRAS G12V-reactive T cell receptor (TCR) was isolated and validated to specifically recognize the KRAS G12V8-16 neoepitope. While T cells engineered to express this TCR specifically recognized all 5 tested human HLA-A*11:01+ and KRAS G12V+ pancreatic cancer organoids, the recognition was often modest, and tumor cell killing was observed in only 2 out of 5 organoids. IFN-γ priming of the organoids enhanced the recognition and killing by the TCR-engineered T cells. The TCR-engineered T cells could significantly slow the growth of an established organoid-derived xenograft in immunodeficient mice. Our data suggest that this TCR has potential for use in TCR-gene therapy, but additional strategies that enhance tumor recognition by the TCR-engineered T cells likely will be required to increase clinical activity.

Increased SOAT2 expression in aged regulatory T cells is associated with altered cholesterol metabolism and reduced anti-tumor immunity

Immune functions decline with aging, leading to increased susceptibility to various diseases including tumors. Exploring aging-related molecular targets in elderly patients with cancer is thus highly sought after. Here we find that an ER transmembrane enzyme, sterol O-acyltransferase 2 (SOAT2), is overexpressed in regulatory T (Treg) cells from elderly patients with lung squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC), while radiomics analysis of LSCC patients associates increased SOAT2 expression with reduced immune infiltration and poor prognosis. Mechanically, ex vivo human and mouse Treg cell data and in vivo mouse tumor models suggest that SOAT2 overexpression in Treg cells promotes cholesterol metabolism by activating the SREBP2-HMGCR-GGPP pathway, leading to enhanced Treg suppresser functions but reduced CD8+ T cell proliferation, migration, homeostasis and anti-tumor immunity. Our study thus identifies a potential mechanism responsible for altered Treg function in the context of immune aging, and also implicates SOAT2 as a potential target for tumor immunotherapy.

Fluorescence Lifetime Imaging of NAD(P)H in Patients' Lymphocytes: Evaluation of Efficacy of Immunotherapy

BACKGROUND

The wide variability in clinical responses to anti-tumor immunotherapy drives the search for personalized strategies. One of the promising approaches is drug screening using patient-derived models composed of tumor and immune cells. In this regard, the selection of an appropriate in vitro model and the choice of cellular response assay are critical for reliable predictions. Fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FLIM) is a powerful, non-destructive tool that enables direct monitoring of cellular metabolism on a label-free basis with a potential to resolve metabolic rearrangements in immune cells associated with their reactivity.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to develop a patient-derived glioma explant model enriched by autologous peripheral lymphocytes and explore FLIM of the redox-cofactor NAD(P)H in living lymphocytes to measure the responses of the model to immune checkpoint inhibitors.

METHODS

The light microscopy, FLIM of NAD(P)H and flow cytometry were used.

RESULTS

The results demonstrate that the responsive models displayed a significant increase in the free NAD(P)H fraction α1 after treatment, associated with a shift towards glycolysis due to lymphocyte activation. The non-responsive models exhibited no alterations or a decrease in the NAD(P)H α1 after treatment. The FLIM data correlated well with the standard assays of immunotherapy drug response in vitro, including morphological changes, the T-cells activation marker CD69, and the tumor cell proliferation index Ki67.

CONCLUSIONS

The proposed platform that includes tumor explants co-cultured with lymphocytes and the NAD(P)H FLIM assay represents a promising solution for the patient-specific immunotherapeutic drug screening.

TLR7: A Key Prognostic Biomarker and Immunotherapeutic Target in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Background: The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays a crucial role in the progression of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). However, understanding its dynamic immune and stromal modulation remains a complex challenge. Methods: We utilized the ESTIMATE algorithm to evaluate the immune and stromal components of the LUAD TME from the TCGA database. Correlations between these components and clinical characteristics and patient prognosis were analyzed. Toll-like receptor 7 (TLR7) was identified as a key prognostic biomarker through PPI network and COX regression analysis. Validation of TLR7 expression was conducted using GEO data, qPCR, WB, and IHC. A prognostic model was developed using a nomogram, incorporating TLR7 expression. Enrichment analysis, the Tumor Immune Estimation Resource database, and single-sample gene set enrichment analysis were used to explore TLR7's potential function. The response of the TLR7 subgroup to immunotherapy and drug sensitivity was observed. Results: We found significant associations between the immune and stromal components of LUAD TME and clinical features and prognosis. Specifically, TLR7 was identified as a prognostic biomarker, where lower expression in tumor tissues was linked to worse outcomes. This finding was further confirmed by comparing TLR7 expression in LUAD cells to normal bronchial epithelial cells, revealing lower expression in the tumor cells. Incorporating TLR7 into a nomogram prognostic model resulted in a good predictor of patient survival. Additionally, TLR7 was associated with immune function and positively correlated with various immune cells. Importantly, patients with high TLR7 expression were more likely to benefit from anti-PD-1 checkpoint blockade therapy. We also identified four treatment candidates for patients with high TLR7 expression. Conclusion: TLR7 is a powerful clinical feature that predicts patient prognosis, immunotherapeutic response, and drug candidates, providing additional insights for the treatment of LUAD.

Establishment and Characterization of Patient-Derived Oral Cancer Organoids

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is the most common form of head and neck cancer. The current standard for treating primary OSCC is surgical resection combined with radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Despite improved therapeutic strategies, OSCC has high rates of metastasis and mortality, with one in two patients dying of the disease. Patient-derived organoids have become promising cell culture systems for disease modeling and precision medicine. Here we describe the high-efficiency generation of organoids from OSCC patients, which can be maintained in the culture for the long term. We further provide protocols for characterizing OSCC organoids using histology and immunofluorescence staining.

Facilitation of Tumor Stroma-Targeted Therapy: Model Difficulty and Co-Culture Organoid Method

Background: Tumors, as intricate ecosystems, comprise oncocytes and the highly dynamic tumor stroma. Tumor stroma, representing the non-cancerous and non-cellular composition of the tumor microenvironment (TME), plays a crucial role in oncogenesis and progression, through its interactions with biological, chemical, and mechanical signals. This review aims to analyze the challenges of stroma mimicry models, and highlight advanced personalized co-culture approaches for recapitulating tumor stroma using patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs). Methods: This review synthesizes findings from recent studies on tumor stroma composition, stromal remodeling, and the spatiotemporal heterogeneities of the TME. It explores popular stroma-related models, co-culture systems integrating PDTOs with stromal elements, and advanced techniques to improve stroma mimicry. Results: Stroma remodeling, driven by stromal cells, highlights the dynamism and heterogeneity of the TME. PDTOs, derived from tumor tissues or cancer-specific stem cells, accurately mimic the tissue-specific and genetic features of primary tumors, making them valuable for drug screening. Co-culture models combining PDTOs with stromal elements effectively recreate the dynamic TME, showing promise in personalized anti-cancer therapy. Advanced co-culture techniques and flexible combinations enhance the precision of tumor-stroma recapitulation. Conclusions: PDTO-based co-culture systems offer a promising platform for stroma mimicry and personalized anti-cancer therapy development. This review underscores the importance of refining these models to advance precision medicine and improve therapeutic outcomes.

Preclinical in vitro models of HNSCC and their role in drug discovery - an emphasis on the cancer microenvironment and microbiota

INTRODUCTION

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is the seventh most common cancer worldwide. Treatment options and patient outcomes have not improved significantly over the past decades, increasing the need for better preclinical models. Holistic approaches that include an intact and functional immune compartment along with the patient's individual tumor microbiome will help improve the predictive value of novel drug efficacy.

AREAS COVERED

In this review, we describe the challenges of modeling the complex and heterogeneous tumor landscape in HNSCC and the importance of sophisticated patient-specific 3D in vitro models to pave the way for clinical trials with novel immunomodulatory drugs. We also discuss the impact of the tumor microbiome and the potential implications for prospective drug screening and validation trials.

EXPERT OPINION

The repertoire of well-characterized preclinical 3D in vitro models continues to grow. With the increasing attention to the complex cellular, immunological, molecular, and spatio-temporal characteristics of tumors, well-designed proof-of-concept studies to test novel drug efficacy are on the verge of providing valuable, practice-changing insights for clinical trials. Bringing together expertise and improving collaboration between clinicians, academics, and regulatory agencies will facilitate the translation of preclinical findings into clinically meaningful outcomes.

A Multiple Targeting Genome Editing System for Remodulation of Circulating Malignant Cells to Eliminate Cancer Immunosuppression and Restore Immune Responses

Cancer immunotherapy, which aims to eliminate cancer immunosuppression and reactivate anticancer immunity, holds great promise in oncology treatments. However, it is challenging to accurately study the efficacy of immunotherapy based on human-derived cells through animal experiments due to xenogeneic immune rejection. Herein, a personalized and precise strategy to evaluate the effectiveness of immunotherapy using the blood samples of cancer patients is presented. Through the utilization of multiple cancer-targeting delivery system decorated with the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-specific aptamer CL4 and the AXL-specific aptamer GL21.T to achieve superior efficiency in delivering the genome editing plasmid for MUC1 knockout, effective modulation on the behavior of circulating malignant cells (CMCs) is realized. After genome editing, both mucin 1 (MUC1) and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) are significantly downregulated in CMCs. The elimination of immunosuppression results in markedly enhanced secretion of pro-inflammatory anticancer cytokines encompassing interleukins 2, 12, and 15 and interferon-γ by immune cells. The study not only provides a strategy to overcome immunosuppression but also yields critical insights for personalized immunotherapy approaches.

The present and future of the Cancer Dependency Map

Despite tremendous progress in the past decade, the complex and heterogeneous nature of cancer complicates efforts to identify new therapies and therapeutic combinations that achieve durable responses in most patients. Further advances in cancer therapy will rely, in part, on the development of targeted therapeutics matched with the genetic and molecular characteristics of cancer. The Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) is a large-scale data repository and research platform, aiming to systematically reveal the landscape of cancer vulnerabilities in thousands of genetically and molecularly annotated cancer models. DepMap is used routinely by cancer researchers and translational scientists and has facilitated the identification of several novel and selective therapeutic strategies for multiple cancer types that are being tested in the clinic. However, it is also clear that the current version of DepMap is not yet comprehensive. In this Perspective, we review (1) the impact and current uses of DepMap, (2) the opportunities to enhance DepMap to overcome its current limitations, and (3) the ongoing efforts to further improve and expand DepMap.

Novel research model for in vitro immunotherapy: co-culturing tumor organoids with peripheral blood mononuclear cells

Tumor organoids have emerged as powerful tools for in vitro cancer research due to their ability to retain the structural and genetic characteristics of tumors. Nevertheless, the absence of a complete tumor microenvironment (TME) limits the broader application of organoid models in immunological studies. Given the critical role of immune cells in tumor initiation and progression, the co-culture model of organoids and peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) may provide an effective platform for simulating the interactions between immune and tumor cells in vitro. This model stands as a robust instrument for dissecting the TME, elucidating the molecular interactions, and exploring the therapeutic applications of chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-engineered lymphocytes, as well as other cancer treatment modalities. This review systematically evaluates the advantages and disadvantages of the co-culture model, identifies its technical bottlenecks, and proposes corresponding optimization strategies. By summarizing the latest research advancements in this co-culture model, our goal is to provide valuable insights for further model optimization and clinical application, thereby promoting immunological research and bridging the gap between experimental outcomes and clinical practice.

Lung cancer organoid-based drug evaluation models and new drug development application trends

Lung cancer is a malignant tumor with high incidence and mortality rates in both men and women worldwide. Although anticancer drugs are prescribed to treat lung cancer patients, individual responses to these drugs vary, making it crucial to identify the most suitable treatment for each patient. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an anticancer drug efficacy prediction model that can analyze drug efficacy before patient treatment and establish personalized treatment strategies. Unlike two-dimensional (2D) cultured lung cancer cells, lung cancer organoid (LCO) models have a three-dimensional (3D) structure that effectively mimics the characteristics and heterogeneity of lung cancer cells. Lung cancer patient-derived organoids (PDOs) also have the advantage of recapitulating histological and genetic characteristics similar to those of patient tissues under in vitro conditions. Due to these advantages, LCO models are utilized in various fields, including cancer research, and precision medicine, and are especially employed in various new drug development processes, such as targeted therapies and immunotherapy. LCO models demonstrate potential applications in precision medicine and new drug development research. This review discusses the various methods for implementing LCO models, LCO-based anticancer drug efficacy analysis models, and new trends in lung cancer-targeted drug development.

Harnessing 3D models to uncover the mechanisms driving infectious and inflammatory disease in the intestine

Representative models of intestinal diseases are transforming our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms of disease, facilitating effective drug screening and avenues for personalised medicine. Despite the emergence of 3D in vitro intestinal organoid culture systems that replicate the genetic and functional characteristics of the epithelial tissue of origin, there are still challenges in reproducing the human physiological tissue environment in a format that enables functional readouts. Here, we describe the latest platforms engineered to investigate environmental tissue impacts, host-microbe interactions and enable drug discovery. This highlights the potential to revolutionise knowledge on the impact of intestinal infection and inflammation and enable personalised disease modelling and clinical translation.

Preclinical Models for Functional Precision Lung Cancer Research

Patient-centered precision oncology strives to deliver individualized cancer care. In lung cancer, preclinical models and technological innovations have become critical in advancing this approach. Preclinical models enable deeper insights into tumor biology and enhance the selection of appropriate systemic therapies across chemotherapy, targeted therapies, immunotherapies, antibody-drug conjugates, and emerging investigational treatments. While traditional human lung cancer cell lines offer a basic framework for cancer research, they often lack the tumor heterogeneity and intricate tumor-stromal interactions necessary to accurately predict patient-specific clinical outcomes. Patient-derived xenografts (PDXs), however, retain the original tumor's histopathology and genetic features, providing a more reliable model for predicting responses to systemic therapeutics, especially molecularly targeted therapies. For studying immunotherapies and antibody-drug conjugates, humanized PDX mouse models, syngeneic mouse models, and genetically engineered mouse models (GEMMs) are increasingly utilized. Despite their value, these in vivo models are costly, labor-intensive, and time-consuming. Recently, patient-derived lung cancer organoids (LCOs) have emerged as a promising in vitro tool for functional precision oncology studies. These LCOs demonstrate high success rates in growth and maintenance, accurately represent the histology and genomics of the original tumors and exhibit strong correlations with clinical treatment responses. Further supported by advancements in imaging, spatial and single-cell transcriptomics, proteomics, and artificial intelligence, these preclinical models are reshaping the landscape of drug development and functional precision lung cancer research. This integrated approach holds the potential to deliver increasingly accurate, personalized treatment strategies, ultimately enhancing patient outcomes in lung cancer.

The Display between HPV Infection and Host Immunity in Cervical Cancer

Most cervical cancers are related to the persistent infections of high-risk Human Papillomavirus (HPV) infections. Increasing evidence has witnessed the immunosuppressive effectiveness of HPV in the oncogenesis steps and progression steps. Here we review the immune response in HPV-related cervical malignancies and discuss the crosstalk between HPVs and the host immune response. Furthermore, we describe the identification and development of current immunotherapies in cervical cancer. Above all, we hope to provide a novel insight of the display between HPV infections and the host immune system.

Advances in the application of colorectal cancer organoids in precision medicine

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.

Applications and evolution of 3D cancer-immune cell models

Understanding the highly complex tumor-immune landscape is an important goal for developing novel immune therapies for solid cancers. To this end, 3D cancer-immune models have emerged as patient-relevant in vitro tools for modeling the tumor-immune landscape and the cellular interactions within it. In this review, we provide an overview of the components and applications of 3D cancer-immune models and discuss their evolution from 2015 to 2023. Specifically, we observe trends in primary cell-sourced, T cell-based complex models used for therapy evaluation and biological discovery. Finally, we describe the challenges of implementing 3D cancer-immune models and the opportunities for maximizing their potential for deciphering the complex tumor-immune microenvironment and identifying novel, clinically relevant drug targets.

TIL Therapy in Lung Cancer: Current Progress and Perspectives

Lung cancer remains the most prevalent malignant tumor worldwide and is the leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Although immune checkpoint blockade has revolutionized the treatment of advanced lung cancer, many patients still do not respond well, often due to the lack of functional T cell infiltration. Adoptive cell therapy (ACT) using expanded immune cells has emerged as an important therapeutic modality. Tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL) therapy is one form of ACT involving the administration of expanded and activated autologous T cells derived from surgically resected cancer tissues and reinfusion into patients and holds great therapeutic potential for lung cancer. In this review, TIL therapy is introduced and its suitability for lung cancer is discussed. Then its historical and clinical developments are summarized, and the methods developed up-to-date to identify tumor-recognizing TILs and optimize TIL composition. Some perspectives toward future TIL therapy for lung cancer are also provided.

Modeling immune checkpoint inhibitor associated myocarditis in vitro and its therapeutic implications

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis is the most lethal side effect of immune checkpoint blockade. Myocarditis leads to persistently increased mortality and lacks effective treatments. The development of patient-relevant disease models may enable disease prediction, increased understanding of disease pathophysiology, and the development of effective treatment strategies. Here, we report a new method to model immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis in vitro via a co-culture of activated primary human immune cells, human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes, and FDA-approved immune checkpoint inhibitors to recapitulate myocarditis in vitro. Significant cardiomyocyte necrosis, arrhythmia development, and sarcomere destruction occur, replicating clinical findings from myocarditis. This tissue culture myocarditis phenotype may rely on an induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocyte antigen-specific CD8+ T cell response. The administration of dexamethasone rescued cardiomyocyte viability, morphology, and electrophysiology and suppressed inflammatory cytokine production. In conclusion, we detail how this platform can effectively model and provide critical information about the morphological and electrophysiological changes induced by immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis. We have also validated the ability of this platform to screen potential medications to treat immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis. This work establishes a robust, scalable model for identifying new therapies and risk factors, which is valuable in delineating the nature of interactions between the immune system and the heart during myocarditis.

Crosstalk of T cells within the ovarian cancer microenvironment

Ovarian cancer (OC) represents ecosystems of highly diverse tumor microenvironments (TMEs). The presence of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) is linked to enhanced immune responses and long-term survival. In this review we present emerging evidence suggesting that cellular crosstalk tightly regulates the distribution of TILs within the TME, underscoring the need to better understand key cellular networks that promote or impede T cell infiltration in OC. We also capture the emergent methodologies and computational techniques that enable the dissection of cell-cell crosstalk. Finally, we present innovative ex vivo TME models that can be leveraged to map and perturb cellular communications to enhance T cell infiltration and immune reactivity.

Breaking the mold: 3D cell cultures reshaping the future of cancer research

Despite extensive efforts to unravel tumor behavior and develop anticancer therapies, most treatments fail when advanced to clinical trials. The main challenge in cancer research has been the absence of predictive cancer models, accurately mimicking the tumoral processes and response to treatments. The tumor microenvironment (TME) shows several human-specific physical and chemical properties, which cannot be fully recapitulated by the conventional 2D cell cultures or the in vivo animal models. These limitations have driven the development of novel in vitro cancer models, that get one step closer to the typical features of in vivo systems while showing better species relevance. This review introduces the main considerations required for developing and exploiting tumor spheroids and organoids as cancer models. We also detailed their applications in drug screening and personalized medicine. Further, we show the transition of these models into novel microfluidic platforms, for improved control over physiological parameters and high-throughput screening. 3D culture models have provided key insights into tumor biology, more closely resembling the in vivo TME and tumor characteristics, while enabling the development of more reliable and precise anticancer therapies.

Acoustic virtual 3D scaffold for direct-interacting tumor organoid-immune cell coculture systems

Three-dimensional (3D) cell culture has revolutionized life sciences, particularly in organoid technologies. Traditional bioscaffold materials, however, complicate the detachment of tumor organoids and hamper the routine use of organoid-immune cell cocultures. Here, we show an acoustic virtual 3D scaffold (AV-Scaf) method to achieve 3D tumor organoid culture, enabling a direct-interacting tumor organoid-immune cell coculture system. The self-organization process of tumor cells is facilitated by a vortex acoustic field, which enables the cell bioassembly and ion channel activation. This approach can significantly enhance the influx of calcium ions, thereby accelerating intercellular interactions of cellular assemblies. We established scaffold-free melanoma and breast cancer organoids using AV-Scaf and cocultured melanoma organoids with T cells. We found that our coculture system resulted in a high activation state of T cells, characterized by notable up-regulation of granzyme B (2.82 to 17.5%) and interferon-γ (1.36 to 16%). AV-Scaf offers an efficient method for tumor organoid-immune cell studies, advancing cancer research and immunotherapy development.

Organoid models of breast cancer in precision medicine and translational research

One of the most famous and heterogeneous cancers worldwide is breast cancer (BC). Owing to differences in the gene expression profiles and clinical features of distinct BC subtypes, different treatments are prescribed for patients. However, even with more thorough pathological evaluations of tumors than in the past, available treatments do not perform equally well for all individuals. Precision medicine is a new approach that considers the effects of patients' genes, lifestyle, and environment to choose the right treatment for an individual patient. As a powerful tool, the organoid culture system can maintain the morphological and genetic characteristics of patients' tumors. Evidence also shows that organoids have high predictive value for patient treatment. In this review, a variety of BC studies performed on organoid culture systems are evaluated. Additionally, the potential of using organoid models in BC translational research, especially in immunotherapy, drug screening, and precision medicine, has been reported.

Patient-derived organoids in precision cancer medicine

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.

Advancing cancer research through organoid technology

The complexity of tumors and the challenges associated with treatment often stem from the limitations of existing models in accurately replicating authentic tumors. Recently, organoid technology has emerged as an innovative platform for tumor research. This bioengineering approach enables researchers to simulate, in vitro, the interactions between tumors and their microenvironment, thereby enhancing the intricate interplay between tumor cells and their surroundings. Organoids also integrate multidimensional data, providing a novel paradigm for understanding tumor development and progression while facilitating precision therapy. Furthermore, advancements in imaging and genetic editing techniques have significantly augmented the potential of organoids in tumor research. This review explores the application of organoid technology for more precise tumor simulations and its specific contributions to cancer research advancements. Additionally, we discuss the challenges and evolving trends in developing comprehensive tumor models utilizing organoid technology.

Assembloid models of cell-cell interaction to study tissue and disease biology

Neurodevelopment involves the migration, projection, and integration of various cell types across different regions of the nervous system. Assembloids are self-organizing systems formed by the integration of multiple organoids or cell types. Here, we outline the generation and application of assembloids. We illustrate how assembloids recapitulate critical neurodevelopmental steps, like migration, axon projection, and circuit formation, and how they are starting to provide biological insights into neuropsychiatric disorders. Additionally, we review how assembloids can be used to study properties emerging from cell-cell interactions within non-neural tissues. Overall, assembloid platforms represent a powerful tool for discovering human biology and developing therapeutics.

Cancer-associated fibroblasts shape early myeloid cell response to chemotherapy-induced immunogenic signals in next generation tumor organoid cultures

BACKGROUND

Patient-derived colorectal cancer (CRC) organoids (PDOs) solely consisting of malignant cells led to major advances in the understanding of cancer treatments. Yet, a major limitation is the absence of cells from the tumor microenvironment, thereby prohibiting potential investigation of treatment responses on immune and structural cells. Currently there are sparse reports describing the interaction of PDOs, cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in complex primary co-culture assay systems.

METHODS

Primary PDOs and patient matched CAF cultures were generated from surgical resections. Co-culture systems of PDOs, CAFs and monocytic myeloid cells were set up to recapitulate features seen in patient tumors. Single-cell transcriptomics and flow cytometry was used to show effects of culture systems on TAM populations in the co-culture assays under chemotherapeutic and oncolytic viral treatment.

RESULTS

In contrast to co-cultures of tumor cells and monocytes, CAF/monocyte co-cultures and CAF/monocyte/tumor cell triple cultures resulted in a partial differentiation into macrophages and a phenotypic switch, characterized by the expression of major immunosuppressive markers comparable to TAMs in CRC. Oxaliplatin and 5-fluorouracil, the standard-of-care chemotherapy for CRC, induced polarization of macrophages to a pro-inflammatory phenotype comparable to the immunogenic effects of treatment with an oncolytic virus. Monitoring phagocytosis as a functional proxy to macrophage activation and subsequent onset of an immune response, revealed that chemotherapy-induced cell death, but not virus-mediated cell death, is necessary to induce phagocytosis of CRC cells. Moreover, CAFs enhanced the phagocytic activity in chemotherapy treated CRC triple cultures.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary CAF-containing triple cultures successfully model TAM-like phenotypes ex vivo and allow the assessment of their functional and phenotypic changes in response to treatments following a precision medicine approach.

Ex vivo modeling of precision immuno-oncology responses in lung cancer

Despite immunotherapy's promise in cancer treatment, patient responses vary substantially because of the individual nature of the immune system and the lack of reliable biomarkers. To address this issue, we developed a precision ex vivo platform that integrates patient-specific tumor and immune cells to study the mechanisms of antitumor immune response, predict immunotherapy outcomes, and identify effective treatments. This platform revealed unique single-cell immune response mechanisms and sensitivities to standard-of-care immunotherapies. Furthermore, we were able to identify a synergistic combination of anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (anti-PD-1) together with a Casitas B lineage lymphoma-b inhibitor that overcame anti-PD-1 resistance in selected patient samples. Activation of the interferon-γ-stimulated cytokines predicted combination efficacy, while immunosuppressive cytokines were associated with poor response. Our findings underscore the platform's potential in tailoring immunotherapies and advancing drug development, offering avenues for personalized cancer treatment.

Base editing screens define the genetic landscape of cancer drug resistance mechanisms

Drug resistance is a principal limitation to the long-term efficacy of cancer therapies. Cancer genome sequencing can retrospectively delineate the genetic basis of drug resistance, but this requires large numbers of post-treatment samples to nominate causal variants. Here we prospectively identify genetic mechanisms of resistance to ten oncology drugs from CRISPR base editing mutagenesis screens in four cancer cell lines using a guide RNA library predicted to install 32,476 variants in 11 cancer genes. We identify four functional classes of protein variants modulating drug sensitivity and use single-cell transcriptomics to reveal how these variants operate through distinct mechanisms, including eliciting a drug-addicted cell state. We identify variants that can be targeted with alternative inhibitors to overcome resistance and functionally validate an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) variant that sensitizes lung cancer cells to EGFR inhibitors. Our variant-to-function map has implications for patient stratification, therapy combinations and drug scheduling in cancer treatment.

Altered immunophenotypic expression in the peripheral bladder cancer immune landscape

Treatments targeting the immune system only benefit a subset of patients with bladder cancer (BC). Biomarkers predictive of BC progression and response to specific therapeutic interventions are required. We evaluated whether peripheral blood immune subsets and expression of clinically relevant immune checkpoint markers are associated with clinicopathologic features of BC. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells isolated from blood collected from 23 patients with BC and 9 age-matched unaffected-by-cancer control donors were assessed using a 21-parameter flow cytometry panel composed of markers of T, B, natural killer and myeloid populations and immune checkpoint markers. Patients with BC had significantly lower numbers of circulating CD19+ B cells and elevated circulating CD4+CD8+ T cells compared with the control cohort. Immune checkpoint markers programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) and T-cell immunoglobulin and mucin-domain containing-3 (TIM-3) were elevated in the total peripheral immune cell population in patients with BC. Within the BC cohort, PD-1 expression in T and myeloid cells was elevated in muscle-invasive compared with non-muscle-invasive disease. In addition, elevated T, B and myeloid PD-1 cell surface expression was significantly associated with tumor stage, suggesting that measures of peripheral immune cell exhaustion may be a predictor of tumor progression in BC. Finally, positive correlations between expression levels of the various immune checkpoints both overall and within key peripheral blood immune subsets collected from patients with BC were observed, highlighting likely coregulation of peripheral immune checkpoint expression. The peripheral blood immunophenotype in patients with BC is altered compared with cancer-free individuals. Understanding this dysregulated immune profile will contribute to the identification of diagnostic and prognostic indicators to guide effective immune-targeted, personalized treatments.

Ex Vivo Intestinal Organoid Models: Current State-of-the-Art and Challenges in Disease Modelling and Therapeutic Testing for Colorectal Cancer

Despite improvements in participation in population-based screening programme, colorectal cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Targeted interventions are desirable to reduce the health and economic burden of this disease. Two-dimensional monolayers of colorectal cancer cell lines represent the traditional in vitro models for disease and are often used for diverse purposes, including the delineation of molecular pathways associated with disease aetiology or the gauging of drug efficacy. The lack of complexity in such models, chiefly the limited epithelial cell diversity and differentiation, attenuated mucus production, lack of microbial interactions and mechanical stresses, has driven interest in the development of more holistic and physiologically relevant in vitro model systems. In particular, established ex vivo patient-derived explant and patient-derived tumour xenograft models have been supplemented by progress in organoid and microfluidic organ-on-a-chip cultures. Here, we discuss the applicability of advanced culturing technologies, such as organoid systems, as models for colorectal cancer and for testing chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity and efficacy. We highlight current challenges associated with organoid technologies and discuss their future for more accurate disease modelling and personalized medicine.