Innovative Precision Oncology Platform Enhances Prediction of Chemotherapy Success in Esophageal Cancer
A novel precision oncology platform leveraging Organ Chip technology can accurately predict chemotherapy responses in esophageal adenocarcinoma, enabling personalized treatment for better patient outcomes.
Researchers from Harvard University and McGill University have developed a cutting-edge precision oncology platform that significantly improves the prediction of chemotherapy responses in patients with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC), a highly lethal form of esophageal cancer. This breakthrough utilizes advanced microfluidic Organ Chip technology to create patient-specific tumor models that incorporate the tumor microenvironment (TME), including stromal cells and immune components, which traditional organoid models lack.
Esophageal adenocarcinoma remains one of the most deadly cancers worldwide, with limited targeted therapies available. Standard treatment involves neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) administered before surgery to shrink tumors. However, many patients either do not respond or develop resistance to these chemotherapies, leading to poor clinical outcomes and increased toxicity risks. Currently, clinicians continue with a trial-and-error approach, often administering chemotherapy without knowing its likely effectiveness.
The new approach involves deriving organoids from biopsied tumor cells of EAC patients and integrating them with stromal fibroblasts from the same tissue samples to build personalized Cancer Chips. These Chips replicate the tumor's microenvironment and are exposed to chemotherapy regimens similar to clinical treatment protocols. Remarkably, responses in these models align closely with actual patient responses, providing a rapid and reliable method to stratify patients within 12 days.
This technology not only enables better treatment planning by identifying likely responders and non-responders but also facilitates testing of alternative therapies for resistant tumors. The researchers demonstrated that their models reliably predicted patient outcomes post-surgery, offering a promising tool for personalized therapy and drug development. According to Dr. Donald Ingber, this platform could be implemented widely to optimize treatment and discover new therapeutic targets.
Furthermore, this research advances understanding of esophageal pathology, including Barrett’s esophagus—precancerous changes that may lead to EAC—by modeling the disease's early stages. The ability to simulate complex tissue interactions and drug responses in vitro marks a significant stride toward tailored, more effective cancer treatments.
The findings have been published in the Journal of Translational Medicine and pave the way for rapid, personalized treatment strategies that could improve survival rates and reduce unnecessary toxicity for esophageal cancer patients.
Stay Updated with Mia's Feed
Get the latest health & wellness insights delivered straight to your inbox.
Related Articles
Innovative AI Tool Enhances Data Fairness and Accuracy to Advance Healthcare Algorithms
Mount Sinai researchers develop AEquity, a groundbreaking AI tool that detects and reduces biases in health datasets, improving the accuracy and fairness of medical algorithms for better patient outcomes.
Breakthrough in Primate Stem Cell Research: Adult Cells Identified in Small Non-Human Primate
Scientists have uncovered adult stem cells in a small non-human primate, the mouse lemur, offering promising new avenues for regenerative medicine and muscle disease treatments. This discovery enhances our understanding of primate biology and improves the development of human therapies.
Tiny Blood Vessels May Promote Melanoma Cell Spread Through Mechanical Stress
New research reveals that the squeezing of melanoma cells through tiny blood vessels can trigger their transformation into more aggressive, metastasis-capable cells, offering potential new avenues for cancer treatment.
