Using lab-grown 3D organoids to identify sarcoma treatments

Using small 3D models that mimic a patient's tumor, UCLA researchers can quickly test hundreds of potential drugs

Researchers at the UCLA Health Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center have used cells from sarcoma patients to develop the largest collection of lab-grown 3D mini-tumors, or “organoids,” to better understand this rare cancer and identify therapies most likely to work in each individual seem patient.

Their approach is detailed in the latest issue of the journal Cell Stem Cell.

Sarcomas, which develop in the bones and soft tissues, account for less than 1% of cancers but have a high mortality rate, particularly in young people. The rarity and diversity of sarcomas – there are more than 100 subtypes – make them particularly difficult to study. And patients' responses to traditional therapies vary widely, making finding the most effective approach for each person “like looking for a needle in a haystack,” said study lead author Alice Soragni.

How do cancer organoids work?

By using a person's own tumor cells, scientists create smaller 3D versions of their tumors in the lab, usually within a week. These organoids mimic the function and key characteristics of a person's individual tumor and can be used to rapidly test hundreds of potential drugs.

The researchers assembled a biobank of 294 samples from 126 UCLA patients diagnosed with 25 different sarcoma subtypes and successfully created organoids from over 110 samples. They then subjected these organoids to high-throughput drug screening using the mini-ring pipeline developed by Soragni and her team.

Identification of possible treatments

The team was able to identify at least one potentially effective US Food and Drug Administration-approved treatment for 59% of the samples tested. In addition, they found that in a small number of cases, the drug responses observed in the laboratory were consistent with the patients' own response to treatment, suggesting that these organoids could be an effective tool for guiding clinical decisions.

Read more about the study on the UCLA Health website.