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Organoid Models of Tumor Immunology.

Literature Information

DOI10.1016/j.it.2020.06.010
PMID32654925
JournalTrends in immunology
Impact Factor13.9
JCR QuartileQ1
Publication Year2020
Times Cited217
Keywordsimmunotherapy, organoids, tumor microenvironment
Literature TypeJournal Article, Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't, Review
ISSN1471-4906
Pages652-664
Issue41(8)
AuthorsKanako Yuki, Ning Cheng, Michitaka Nakano, Calvin J Kuo

TL;DR

This paper discusses the critical role of cellular interactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME) on cancer progression and treatment responses, highlighting the limitations of traditional 2D models in representing these interactions. It emphasizes the potential of innovative 3D organoid cultures using primary human tumor biopsies for advancing immuno-oncology research and enhancing the precision of immunotherapy approaches.

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immunotherapy · organoids · tumor microenvironment

Abstract

Cellular interactions in the tumor microenvironment (TME) significantly govern cancer progression and drug response. The efficacy of clinical immunotherapies has fostered an exponential interest in the tumor immune microenvironment, which in turn has engendered a pressing need for robust experimental systems modeling patient-specific tumor-immune interactions. Traditional 2D in vitro tumor immunotherapy models have reconstituted immortalized cancer cell lines with immune components, often from peripheral blood. However, newly developed 3D in vitro organoid culture methods now allow the routine culture of primary human tumor biopsies and increasingly incorporate immune components. Here, we present a viewpoint on recent advances, and propose translational applications of tumor organoids for immuno-oncology research, immunotherapy modeling, and precision medicine.

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Primary Questions Addressed

  1. How do organoid models compare to traditional 2D models in terms of mimicking the tumor microenvironment?
  2. What specific immune components can be incorporated into organoid cultures to enhance their relevance for immunotherapy research?
  3. In what ways can organoid models facilitate the development of personalized immunotherapy strategies for cancer patients?
  4. What are the limitations of current organoid models in accurately representing the complexities of tumor-immune interactions?
  5. How might advancements in organoid technology impact future clinical trials for immunotherapies?

Key Findings

Research Background and Purpose

The study focuses on the development and application of organoid models to better understand tumor immunology and the tumor microenvironment (TME). Traditional 2D and animal models have limitations in replicating the complex interactions between tumor cells and the immune system. The authors highlight the need for advanced experimental systems that can model patient-specific tumor-immune interactions to enhance immunotherapy research and precision medicine.

Main Methods/Materials/Experimental Design

The authors present various organoid culture systems to model the TME, including:

  1. Submerged Matrigel Culture: Tumor cells are cultured in a 3D Matrigel matrix with added growth factors to support self-renewal and differentiation. This method typically lacks stromal components and requires co-culture with immune cells for TME modeling.

  2. Microfluidic 3D Culture: This system allows for the growth of tumor spheroids in a 3D gel with parallel media channels, preserving autologous immune cells and tumor cells.

  3. Air-Liquid Interface (ALI) Culture: Tumor organoids are embedded in collagen gel with an exposed top layer to air, promoting oxygen access and retaining both tumor and immune components from the original tissue.

Mermaid diagram

Key Results and Findings

  • Organoid models successfully replicate the genetic and phenotypic diversity of tumors, providing a more accurate representation of patient tumors compared to traditional models.
  • The ALI culture method retains the complexity of the TME, including diverse immune cell populations and stromal components.
  • Tumor organoids can effectively model responses to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) and adoptive cell therapies (ACTs), revealing the potential for personalized cancer immunotherapy.

Main Conclusions/Significance/Innovation

The integration of immune components into organoid models represents a significant advancement in cancer research. These models allow for the investigation of tumor-immune interactions, the testing of immunotherapeutics, and the development of personalized treatment strategies. The study emphasizes the importance of creating holistic models that accurately reflect the native TME, which can enhance our understanding of immunotherapy responses and resistance mechanisms.

Research Limitations and Future Directions

  • The study acknowledges challenges in maintaining immune cell viability and function over extended culture periods, which limits long-term studies.
  • Future research should focus on optimizing culture conditions to enhance immune cell preservation and exploring the interactions between tumor cells and various immune populations in more complex models.
  • The authors suggest that organoid models can be further developed to investigate cancer-associated inflammation and pathogen interactions, which could lead to novel therapeutic insights.

Summary Table of Organoid Culture Systems

FeatureSubmerged Matrigel CultureMicrofluidic 3D CultureALI Culture
SourcePatient-derived and mouse-derived tumorsPatient and murine tumorsPrimary human biopsies
Retained ComponentsTumor cells only; lacks immune/stromal cellsTumor cells and some immune cellsTumor cells, native immune cells, and stroma
Culture DurationLong-term for organoid expansionShort-term; long-term not reportedLong-term for tumor cells; immune cells decline
AdvantagesEasy to expand; models tumor diversityPreserves multiple cell types; small samplePreserves immune components; models interactions
LimitationsLacks native immune and stromal componentsRequires specialized equipment; size limitsImmune components decline over time

This structured summary encapsulates the core findings and methodologies of the study, highlighting the potential of organoid models in advancing cancer immunotherapy research.

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Literatures Citing This Work

  1. Targeting TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) in cancer. - Or-Yam Revach;Shuming Liu;Russell W Jenkins - Expert opinion on therapeutic targets (2020)
  2. Exploration of Feasible Immune Biomarkers for Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Treatment in Real World Clinical Practice. - Hui-Ching Wang;Tsung-Jang Yeh;Leong-Perng Chan;Chin-Mu Hsu;Shih-Feng Cho - International journal of molecular sciences (2020)
  3. The future of microfluidics in immune checkpoint blockade. - Jonathan Briones;Wilfred Espulgar;Shohei Koyama;Hyota Takamatsu;Eiichi Tamiya;Masato Saito - Cancer gene therapy (2021)
  4. Targeting metastatic cancer. - Karuna Ganesh;Joan Massagué - Nature medicine (2021)
  5. Bioinformatic Approaches to Validation and Functional Analysis of 3D Lung Cancer Models. - P Jonathan Li;Jeroen P Roose;David M Jablons;Johannes R Kratz - Cancers (2021)
  6. An expanded universe of cancer targets. - William C Hahn;Joel S Bader;Theodore P Braun;Andrea Califano;Paul A Clemons;Brian J Druker;Andrew J Ewald;Haian Fu;Subhashini Jagu;Christopher J Kemp;William Kim;Calvin J Kuo;Michael McManus;Gordon B Mills;Xiulei Mo;Nidhi Sahni;Stuart L Schreiber;Jessica A Talamas;Pablo Tamayo;Jeffrey W Tyner;Bridget K Wagner;William A Weiss;Daniela S Gerhard; - Cell (2021)
  7. Patient-Derived Organoids for Precision Cancer Immunotherapy. - Mikaela Grönholm;Michaela Feodoroff;Gabriella Antignani;Beatriz Martins;Firas Hamdan;Vincenzo Cerullo - Cancer research (2021)
  8. Recent advances in preclinical models for lung squamous cell carcinoma. - Yuanwang Pan;Han Han;Kristen E Labbe;Hua Zhang;Kwok-Kin Wong - Oncogene (2021)
  9. The Role of Network Science in Glioblastoma. - Marta B Lopes;Eduarda P Martins;Susana Vinga;Bruno M Costa - Cancers (2021)
  10. Patient-Derived Organoids as a Model for Cancer Drug Discovery. - Colin Rae;Francesco Amato;Chiara Braconi - International journal of molecular sciences (2021)

... (207 more literatures)


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