Cell culture model systems are fundamental tools for studying cancer biology and identifying therapeutic vulnerabilities in a controlled environment. TET cells are notoriously difficult to culture, with only a few permanent cell lines available. The optimal conditions and requirements for the ex vivo establishment and permanent expansion of TET cells have not been systematically studied, and it is currently unknown whether different TET subtypes require different culture conditions or specific supplements. The few permanent cell lines available represent only type AB thymomas and thymic carcinomas, while attempts to propagate tumor cells derived from type B thymomas so far have been frustrated. It is conceivable that epithelial cells in type B thymomas are critically dependent on their interaction with immature T cells or their three-dimensional scaffold. Extensive studies leading to validated cell culture protocols would be highly desirable and a major advance in the field. Alternative methods such as tumor cell organoid models, patient-derived xenografts, or tissue slices have been sporadically used in TETs, but their specific contributions and advantages remain to be shown.
细胞培养模型系统是在受控环境中研究癌症生物学和识别治疗脆弱性的基础工具。胸腺上皮肿瘤细胞培养难度极大，目前仅有少数永生化细胞系可用。关于胸腺上皮肿瘤细胞离体建系及永久性扩增的最佳条件与需求尚未得到系统研究，目前尚不清楚不同胸腺上皮肿瘤亚型是否需要差异化的培养条件或特定添加物。现有少数永生化细胞系仅代表AB型胸腺瘤与胸腺癌，而B型胸腺瘤来源的肿瘤细胞培养尝试至今未获成功。可以推测，B型胸腺瘤中的上皮细胞可能高度依赖其与未成熟T细胞或三维支架的相互作用。建立经过验证的细胞培养方案需要开展广泛研究，这将成为该领域的重要突破。类器官模型、患者来源异种移植模型或组织切片等替代方法在胸腺上皮肿瘤研究中虽有零星应用，但其具体贡献与优势仍有待阐明。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家