The scientists developed colon cancer organoids from tumors that had already metastasized into the liver. The mini-tumors were then exposed to typical clinical combination chemotherapy for a longer period of time until the occurrence of therapy resistance. The organoids were then molecularly analyzed which revealed that the cancer cells undergo different patterns of genetic evolution during their adaptation to therapy, depending on their individual background. This, the researchers say, is why they respond differently to second-line therapies.

The research findings help the team of scientists to develop strategies for combination therapy to overcome the acquired chemotherapy resistance of colorectal cancer cells.

Original publication:
Sophie L. Boos, Leon P. Loevenich, Sebastian Vosberg, Thomas Engleitner, Rupert Öllinger, Jörg Kumbrink, Matjaz Rokavec, Marlies Michl, Philipp A. Greif, Andreas Jung, Heiko Hermeking, Jens Neumann, Thomas Kirchner, Roland Rad, Peter Jung: Disease modeling on tumor organoids implicates AURKA as a 1therapeutic target in liver metastatic colorectal cancer. Cellular and Molecular Gastroenterology and Hepatology (CMGH) 2021, DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jcmgh.2021.10.008

Source:
https://idw-online.de/de/news778326
https://dktk.dkfz.de/standorte/muenchen