Despite improvements in participation in population-based screening programme, colorectal cancer remains a major cause of cancer-related mortality worldwide. Targeted interventions are desirable to reduce the health and economic burden of this disease. Two-dimensional monolayers of colorectal cancer cell lines represent the traditional in vitro models for disease and are often used for diverse purposes, including the delineation of molecular pathways associated with disease aetiology or the gauging of drug efficacy. The lack of complexity in such models, chiefly the limited epithelial cell diversity and differentiation, attenuated mucus production, lack of microbial interactions and mechanical stresses, has driven interest in the development of more holistic and physiologically relevant in vitro model systems. In particular, established ex vivo patient-derived explant and patient-derived tumour xenograft models have been supplemented by progress in organoid and microfluidic organ-on-a-chip cultures. Here, we discuss the applicability of advanced culturing technologies, such as organoid systems, as models for colorectal cancer and for testing chemotherapeutic drug sensitivity and efficacy. We highlight current challenges associated with organoid technologies and discuss their future for more accurate disease modelling and personalized medicine.
尽管基于人群的筛查项目参与度有所提升，结直肠癌仍是全球癌症相关死亡的主要原因。为减轻该疾病带来的健康与经济负担，实施针对性干预措施至关重要。传统的结直肠癌细胞系二维单层培养模型作为疾病研究的体外模型，常被用于多种研究目的，包括阐明疾病发生相关的分子通路或评估药物疗效。然而，此类模型因缺乏复杂性——主要表现为上皮细胞多样性与分化程度有限、黏液分泌减弱、缺乏微生物相互作用及机械应力——已促使学界转向开发更全面且更具生理相关性的体外模型系统。特别是随着类器官与微流控器官芯片培养技术的进步，既有的离体患者来源组织块模型和患者来源肿瘤异种移植模型得到了有力补充。本文探讨了类器官系统等先进培养技术作为结直肠癌模型及化疗药物敏感性、疗效测试模型的适用性，重点分析了当前类器官技术面临的挑战，并展望其在实现更精准疾病建模与个性化医疗方面的未来前景。
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家