Organoids: the next step in precision oncology

by Marta Martín Izquierdo, PhD, Business Development Genetics and Oncology, Eurofins Megalab, mmartin@megalab.es

Each tumour is unique, and consequently, its treatment should be, too. However, too often many cancer treatments are “one-size-fits-all” and individual biological differences are not taken into account. In some cases, these standard treatments work, but in others they do not, and a trial-anderror approach is used until the best option is found. This process is exhausting for the patient, involves additional costs, and results in loss of critical treatment time.

The implementation of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies and advances in bioinformatics have revolutionised the field of precision oncology, characterising the molecular differences between patients and tumours. The next step in personalised cancer treatment is the identification of the best therapy for each tumour.

The new Eurofins Onco-PDOTM service is a strategic approach targeting tumours that consists of taking a tumour sample and culturing these cells in a 3-dimensional laboratory system mimicking the human body environment, forming complex structures called PDOs (Patient-Derived Organoids). These PDOs are tested against different oncology treatments to assess their response. Two or three weeks from receipt of the sample, a detailed report is provided with the best personalised treatment for that tumour.

The Onco-PDOTM test is intended for patients who will be treated with different oncology treatments and is especially useful for those who have not shown response to first line therapy. To date, this test has been approved for breast, ovarian, colorectal, gastric, pancreatic, prostate, lung, and head and neck cancers, and it is in the process of being optimised for other cancer types.

This innovative approach provides an overview of how the tumour cells respond to standard oncology drugs under in vitro laboratory conditions, getting a sense of how that tumour would respond against those drugs in in vivo conditions. Thereby, organoids are the next step in personalised cancer treatment, determining the best therapy for each patient and each tumour, at different moments in time.

For more information, visit: www.eurofins-megalab.com/en/genetics-ateurofins-megalab-professionals/