Organoids technology for advancing the clinical translation of cancer nanomedicine

The past decades have witnessed the rapid development and widespread application of nanomedicines in cancer treatment; however, the clinical translation of experimental findings has been low, as evidenced by the low percentage of commercialized nanomedicines. Incomplete understanding of nanomedicine-tumor interactions and inappropriate evaluation models are two important challenges limiting the clinical translation of cancer nanomedicines. Currently, nanomedicine-tumor interaction and therapeutic effects are mainly investigated using cell lines or mouse models, which do not recapitulate the complex tumor microenvironment in human patients. Thus, information obtained from cell lines and mouse models cannot provide adequate guidance for the rational redesign of nanomedicine. Compared with other preclinical models, tumor organoids constructed from patient-derived tumor tissues are superior in retaining the key histopathological, genetic, and phenotypic features of the parent tumor. We speculate that organoid technology would help elucidate nanomedicine-tumor interaction in the tumor microenvironment and guide the design of nanomedicine, making it a reliable tool to accurately predict drug responses in patients with cancer. This review highlighted the advantages of drug delivery systems in cancer treatment, challenges limiting the clinical translation of antitumor nanomedicines, and potential application of patient-derived organoids (PDO) in nanomedicine. We propose that combining organoids and nanotechnology would facilitate the development of safe and effective cancer nanomedicines and accelerate their clinical application. This review discussed the potential translational value of integrative research using organoids and cancer nanomedicine.This article is categorized under:Nanotechnology Approaches to Biology > Nanoscale Systems in BiologyTherapeutic Approaches and Drug Discovery > Nanomedicine for Oncologic Disease

Automated summary

The rapid development and widespread application of nanomedicines in cancer treatment over the past decades have not been effectively translated into clinical practice, as evidenced by the low commercialization rate. Inadequate understanding of nanomedicine-tumor interactions and inappropriate evaluation models are two major challenges limiting their clinical translation. The use of cell lines or mouse models to study nanomedicine-tumor interactions and therapeutic effects lack the complex tumor microenvironment found in human patients. Patient-derived tumor organoids, on the other hand, retain the key features of the parent tumor and can provide valuable insights for the rational design of nanomedicines. This review highlights the potential of combining organoids and nanotechnology to develop safe and effective cancer nanomedicines and accelerate their clinical application.