Theranostics 2024; 14(3):1101-1125. doi:10.7150/thno.91362 This issue Cite
Review
1. Institute of Translational Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
2. Institute of Medicine, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
3. Organoid Research Center, Shanghai University, Shanghai 200444, China.
4. Biopharma Industry Promotion Center Shanghai, Shanghai 201203, China.
5. Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Shanghai Zhongye Hospital, Shanghai, 200941, China.
6. Department of Orthopedics, Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200092, China.
7. Department of Gastroenterology, Changhai Hospital, Naval Medical University, Shanghai 200433, China.
Cancer remains a severe public health burden worldwide. One of the challenges hampering effective cancer therapy is that the existing cancer models hardly recapitulate the tumor microenvironment of human patients. Over the past decade, tumor organoids have emerged as an in vitro 3D tumor model to mimic the pathophysiological characteristics of parental tumors. Various techniques have been developed to construct tumor organoids, such as matrix-based methods, hanging drop, spinner or rotating flask, nonadhesive surface, organ-on-a-chip, 3D bioprinting, and genetic engineering. This review elaborated on cell components and fabrication methods for establishing tumor organoid models. Furthermore, we discussed the application of tumor organoids to cancer modeling, basic cancer research, and anticancer therapy. Finally, we discussed current limitations and future directions in employing tumor organoids for more extensive applications.
Keywords: tumor organoids, cellular components, culture methods, basic cancer research, antitumor therapy