Long Term-culturable PDO Models

Patient-derived tumor organoids established in Fukushima project (F-PDOs), which can be cultured for over a half-year period, were established from clinical tumor tissues (e.g., lung, ovary, uterus, etc.). Data were acquired from histological analysis, whole-exome analysis, and comprehensive gene expression analysis of F-PDOs and their source tumor tissues. The comparative analysis proved that the characteristics of F-PDOs are similar to those of their source tumors. In addition, HLA typing of F-PDO is also performed. Currently, 62 F-PDO lines have been established (F-PDO list).

F-PDOs were used in experiments on cell growth inhibition by anticancer agents. A suitable high-throughput assay system, with 96- or 384-well plates, was designed for each F-PDO, and standard anticancer agents were evaluated. Notably, F-PDOs showed more resistance to these agents than conventional cancer cell lines. These results indicate that F-PDOs maintain the characteristics of their source tumors, which were resistant to these agents. The assay system using F-PDOs enables evaluation of anticancer agents under conditions that better reflect clinical conditions than conventional methods and help discover markers of pharmacological effects for anticancer agents. In addition, F-PDOs can be implanted into immunodeficient mice.