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Subclonal response heterogeneity to define cancer organoid therapeutic sensitivity
Journal article   Open access   Peer reviewed

Subclonal response heterogeneity to define cancer organoid therapeutic sensitivity

Jeremy D Kratz, Shujah Rehman, Katherine A Johnson, Amani A Gillette, Aishwarya Sunil, Peter F Favreau, Cheri A Pasch, Devon Miller, Lucas C Zarling, Austin H Yeung, …
Scientific reports, Vol.15(1), 12072
04/09/2025
DOI: 10.1038/s41598-025-96204-2
PMCID: PMC11978853
PMID: 40200028
url
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-025-96204-2View
Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

Tumor heterogeneity is predicted to confer inferior clinical outcomes with precision-based strategies, however, modeling heterogeneity in a manner that still represents the tumor of origin remains a formidable challenge. Sequencing technologies are limited in their ability to identify rare subclonal populations and predict response to treatments for patients. Patient-derived organotypic cultures have significantly improved the modeling of cancer biology by faithfully representing the molecular features of primary malignant tissues. Patient-derived cancer organoid (PCO) cultures contain subclonal populations with the potential to recapitulate heterogeneity, although treatment response assessments commonly ignore diversity in the molecular profile or treatment response. Here, we demonstrate the advantage of evaluating individual PCO heterogeneity to enhance the sensitivity of these assays for predicting clinical response. Additionally, organoid subcultures identify subclonal populations with altered treatment response. Finally, dose escalation studies of PCOs to targeted anti-EGFR therapy are utilized which reveal divergent pathway expression when compared to pretreatment cultures. Overall, these studies demonstrate the importance of population-based organoid response assessments, the use of PCOs to identify molecular heterogeneity not observed with bulk tumor sequencing, and PCO heterogeneity for understanding therapeutic resistance mechanisms.
Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology ErbB Receptors - antagonists & inhibitors Genetic Heterogeneity Humans Neoplasms - drug therapy Neoplasms - genetics Neoplasms - pathology Organoids - drug effects Organoids - metabolism Organoids - pathology

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