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Journal of Hematology & Oncology
Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology 1/2019

Open Access 01-12-2019 | Metastasis | Review

Emerging organoid models: leaping forward in cancer research

Authors: Han Fan, Utkan Demirci, Pu Chen

Published in: Journal of Hematology & Oncology | Issue 1/2019

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Abstract

Cancer heterogeneity is regarded as the main reason for the failure of conventional cancer therapy. The ability to reconstruct intra- and interpatient heterogeneity in cancer models is crucial for understanding cancer biology as well as for developing personalized anti-cancer therapy. Cancer organoids represent an emerging approach for creating patient-derived in vitro cancer models that closely recapitulate the pathophysiological features of natural tumorigenesis and metastasis. Meanwhile, cancer organoids have recently been utilized in the discovery of personalized anti-cancer therapy and prognostic biomarkers. Further, the synergistic combination of cancer organoids with organ-on-a-chip and 3D bioprinting presents a new avenue in the development of more sophisticated and optimized model systems to recapitulate complex cancer-stroma or multiorgan metastasis. Here, we summarize the recent advances in cancer organoids from a perspective of the in vitro emulation of natural cancer evolution and the applications in personalized cancer theranostics. We also discuss the challenges and trends in reconstructing more comprehensive cancer models for basic and clinical cancer research.
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Metadata
Title
Emerging organoid models: leaping forward in cancer research
Authors
Han Fan
Utkan Demirci
Pu Chen
Publication date
01-12-2019
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Journal of Hematology & Oncology / Issue 1/2019
Electronic ISSN: 1756-8722
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13045-019-0832-4

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