Patient-derived tumor organoid predicts drugs response in glioblastoma: A step forward in personalized cancer therapy?

• Published in: Journal of clinical neuroscience 2020-08, Vol.78, p.400-402
• Main Authors: Loong, Herbert H-F., Wong, Alissa M, Chan, Danny T-M., Cheung, Maggie S-H., Chow, Chit, Ding, Xiaofan, Chan, Aden K-Y., Johnston, Paul A., Lau, James Y-W., Poon, Wai Sang, Wong, Nathalie
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Cancer organoid; Capture sequencing; Glioblastoma; Targeted therapy
• ISSN: 0967-5868; 1532-2653
• DOI: 10.1016/j.jocn.2020.04.107

•Tumor organoids developed from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) at first and recurrence surgeries.•Patient derived organoid (PDO) was established through target capture sequencing, providing information on druggable candidates.•Heterozygous PTEN copy loss along with a PTEN nonsense mutation in initial tumor suggested bi-allelic loss of PTEN function that likely induced mTOR signalling.•Patient was treated with everolimus with objective clinical and radiological response.•Using PDO in ex-vivo drug sensitivity testing and tailored therapy in patients with GBM has been proven to be technically feasible. Despite significant medical advances, glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) remains a formidable therapeutic challenge. Advent of targeted capture sequencing and patients-derived organoid cultures may hold the key to scientifically sound individualized treatment approaches. We report on our initial experience of using the combination of these two technologies to create a tailored approach of systemic therapies for a patient with GBM, which challenges the conventional treatment paradigm, as well as specifically highlighting the complexities of such an approach and the potential for a more favorable treatment outcome.