Patient-derived tumour organoids can predict how effectively patients with bowel cancer will respond to drug treatment, according to a new study.
Researchers in Australia have developed a drug testing method to help identify the most effective therapies for bowel cancer patients before the start of their treatment. Currently, one of the challenges following diagnosis is choosing the appropriate therapy, with patients undergoing a trial-and-error process, using drugs designed to treat specific vulnerabilities in the cancer cells.
Professor Peter Gibbs, co-lead researcher from Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia, said: 'Many patients with advanced bowel cancer only get one or two chances at treatment. Knowing what is most likely to work before they start treatment would make a significant difference to their survival outcomes and quality of life.'
Publishing their findings in Cell Reports Medicine, the researchers studied a group of 167 patients with different stages of bowel cancer, from the mildest forms to the most severe. Using fresh cancer tissue samples from affected patients, they grew tumour organoids in a dish, tiny 3D organ-like structures that modelled bowel cancer. They then tested a range of standard therapy and biologic drugs on the models.
'Our study showed organoid drug testing was able to predict treatment responses for study patients with a notable 83 percent accuracy,' said corresponding author Dr Oliver Sieber. 'Importantly, pre-testing showed the therapies that won't work with over 90 percent accuracy.'
Furthermore, the researchers also identified two patient-derived organoids that were responsive to a chemotherapy drug which is otherwise commonly used for the treatment of breast and bladder cancer.
Bowel cancer, also known as colorectal cancer, is the second leading cause of death due to cancer. Symptoms include changes in bowel movement, blood mixed in the stool, pain in the abdominal area, and feelings of weakness.
Describing the results of the study Professor Gibbs said: 'Our findings show that organoid drug testing is a potential game-changer for cancer treatment, suggesting the possibility of revolutionising personalised medicine and clinician-patient care through improved treatment selection.'
Patient-derived organoids are used by scientists to model disease progression in a more personalised way. Models have previously been developed by other labs, including liver organoids to model a rare paediatric cancer (see BioNews 1189), and pancreatic organoids to better understand the mechanisms of pancreatic cancer (see BioNews 1113).
In addition, with the emergence of biotechnologies, bioprinted organoids combined with machine learning also seem to offer more precise modelling of tumour response to drug treatment (see BioNews 1193).
The research team now seeks to validate the method as an effective tool for selecting the right treatment for bowel cancer patients. A clinical trial in collaboration with Australian hospitals is set to begin later this year.
Sources and References
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Lab-grown tumours predict treatment outcomes in landmark study
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Unified framework for patient-derived, tumor-organoid-based predictive testing of standard-of-care therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer
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Model tumors identify best drugs for bowel cancer before treatment
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Lab-grown tumors to predict what drugs will work for people with bowel cancer
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Groundbreaking study uses tumour organoids to predict bowel cancer treatment effectiveness
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