The advancements of organoids push the boundaries of glioblastoma research

Postgrad Med J. 2024 Nov 5:qgae149. doi: 10.1093/postmj/qgae149. Online ahead of print.

Abstract

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant tumor of the nervous system, which is difficult to treat due to its strong invasiveness, rapid progression, and poor prognosis. To understand the complex biological behavior of glioblasts and the interaction between tumors and hosts, a new in vitro platform based on human cells is required, which can summarize the complex cellular structure and cell diversity of the human brain, as well as the biological behavior of GBM. Organoids are 3D self-organizing tissues, partially similar to source tissues, which can simulate the structure and physiological functions of organs or tissues in vitro. In this review, we underline the widespread application of different types of GBOs models in GBM pathogenesis, including cells derived, tumor tissues derived, and other co-culture models, as well as their application and shortcomings in the treatment of GBM.

Keywords: glioblastoma; glioblastoma organoids; organoids; precision medicine; tumor microenvironment.