Cancer modeling meets human organoid technology

Abstract

Organoids are microscopic self-organizing three-dimensional structures derived from stem cells in vitro. They summarize many of the structural and functional aspects of their counterparts in vivo. This versatile technology has led to the development of many new models of human cancer. It is now possible to create organoids indefinitely expanding from the tumor tissue of individuals suffering from a range of carcinomas. Alternatively, CRISPR-based gene modification allows the design of organoid cancer models by the introduction of any combination of cancer gene alterations into normal organoids. When combined with immune cells and fibroblasts, tumor organoids become models for the cancer microenvironment for applications in immuno-oncology. New evidence indicates that organoids can be used to accurately predict drug reactions in a personalized treatment context. Here we review the current status and future prospects of the rapidly evolving organoid tumor field.