Traditional cancer models, such as 2D cell cultures and animal models, have been invaluable in cancer research but often fall short in replicating the complexity of human tumour biology. These limitations can reduce their effectiveness in developing personalized therapies. In recent years, organoid cultures—three-dimensional structures derived from patient-derived cells that mimic the architecture and function of real organs—have emerged as a powerful tool in cancer research. These organoids provide a more physiologically relevant environment compared to conventional models, thereby enhancing the predictability and efficacy of cancer treatments.
Despite the promise of organoid technology, several challenges hinder its full potential in precision medicine. Firstly, traditional organoid cultures often lack the complexity of the tumour microenvironment, which plays a critical role in cancer progression and response to therapy. Secondly, current methods to model cancer-immune interactions are insufficient, limiting the ability to study immune-based therapies. Finally, the scalability and reproducibility of organoid cultures remain significant bottlenecks in research and clinical applications.
The introduction of cancer organoid co-culture models offers a novel solution to these problems. By integrating cancer organoids with various cellular components of the tumour microenvironment, including immune cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, researchers can create more comprehensive and accurate models of human cancers. These advanced co-culture systems hold the potential to revolutionize the study of cancer biology and the development of precision therapies.
This Research Topic aims to explore the advancements and applications of cancer organoid co-culture models in precision medicine. We welcome submissions on a variety of themes, including but not limited to:
• Development and Optimization of Co-Culture Techniques: Innovations in creating stable and reproducible co-culture systems, incorporating diverse cell types and extracellular matrices.
• Modelling Tumour Microenvironment: Studies focusing on how co-culture models can better replicate the interactions within the tumour microenvironment, including immune modulation and stromal interactions.
• Drug Screening and Therapeutic Testing: Utilization of co-culture models for high-throughput drug screening, evaluation of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.
• Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis: Investigations on how these models can be used to understand the genetic and molecular underpinnings of cancer, leading to the identification of new therapeutic targets.
• Personalized Medicine: Case studies and clinical trials demonstrating the application of co-culture models in predicting patient-specific responses to treatments.
• Challenges and Future Directions: Critical analysis of the current limitations, potential solutions, and future perspectives in the field of cancer organoid co-culture research.
By addressing these themes, this research topic seeks to highlight the transformative potential of cancer organoid co-culture models in advancing precision medicine, ultimately improving patient outcomes and paving the way for more effective cancer treatments.
Topic Editor R.E. is the CEO of TissueGnostic and holds an honorary appointment as Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.. The other Topic Editors declare no conflicts of interest in regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords:
Tissue Engineering, Cancer Organoids, Co-Culture Models, Tumour Microenvironment, Personalized Therapy, Organoid imaging and analysis
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
Traditional cancer models, such as 2D cell cultures and animal models, have been invaluable in cancer research but often fall short in replicating the complexity of human tumour biology. These limitations can reduce their effectiveness in developing personalized therapies. In recent years, organoid cultures—three-dimensional structures derived from patient-derived cells that mimic the architecture and function of real organs—have emerged as a powerful tool in cancer research. These organoids provide a more physiologically relevant environment compared to conventional models, thereby enhancing the predictability and efficacy of cancer treatments.
Despite the promise of organoid technology, several challenges hinder its full potential in precision medicine. Firstly, traditional organoid cultures often lack the complexity of the tumour microenvironment, which plays a critical role in cancer progression and response to therapy. Secondly, current methods to model cancer-immune interactions are insufficient, limiting the ability to study immune-based therapies. Finally, the scalability and reproducibility of organoid cultures remain significant bottlenecks in research and clinical applications.
The introduction of cancer organoid co-culture models offers a novel solution to these problems. By integrating cancer organoids with various cellular components of the tumour microenvironment, including immune cells, fibroblasts, and endothelial cells, researchers can create more comprehensive and accurate models of human cancers. These advanced co-culture systems hold the potential to revolutionize the study of cancer biology and the development of precision therapies.
This Research Topic aims to explore the advancements and applications of cancer organoid co-culture models in precision medicine. We welcome submissions on a variety of themes, including but not limited to:
• Development and Optimization of Co-Culture Techniques: Innovations in creating stable and reproducible co-culture systems, incorporating diverse cell types and extracellular matrices.
• Modelling Tumour Microenvironment: Studies focusing on how co-culture models can better replicate the interactions within the tumour microenvironment, including immune modulation and stromal interactions.
• Drug Screening and Therapeutic Testing: Utilization of co-culture models for high-throughput drug screening, evaluation of chemotherapy, targeted therapies, and immunotherapies.
• Genomic and Transcriptomic Analysis: Investigations on how these models can be used to understand the genetic and molecular underpinnings of cancer, leading to the identification of new therapeutic targets.
• Personalized Medicine: Case studies and clinical trials demonstrating the application of co-culture models in predicting patient-specific responses to treatments.
• Challenges and Future Directions: Critical analysis of the current limitations, potential solutions, and future perspectives in the field of cancer organoid co-culture research.
By addressing these themes, this research topic seeks to highlight the transformative potential of cancer organoid co-culture models in advancing precision medicine, ultimately improving patient outcomes and paving the way for more effective cancer treatments.
Topic Editor R.E. is the CEO of TissueGnostic and holds an honorary appointment as Adjunct Professor at Queensland University of Technology in Brisbane, Australia.. The other Topic Editors declare no conflicts of interest in regards to the Research Topic subject.
Keywords:
Tissue Engineering, Cancer Organoids, Co-Culture Models, Tumour Microenvironment, Personalized Therapy, Organoid imaging and analysis
Important Note:
All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.