Patient-Centered Breast Cancer Research
Within this project, we use patient-specific 3D-models to investigate responses of breast cancer cells to the standard of care, endocrine and radiotherapy, and personalized targeted therapies.
Overview
Studying gene function requires capturing the tumor state within patient samples. We developed a zero-passage approach to primary patient-derived breast cancer organoids. Using scrapes from a freshly resected primary tumor, we set up 3D organoid cultures that recapitulate in vivo tumor characteristics. This allows us to explore regulatory systems in the most appropriate physiological system ex vivo in comparison to existing cell lines and mouse models of ER+ breast cancer. Primary zero-passage organoids are compatible with various combinations of pharmacological and genetic perturbations to generate conclusive results in a two-week time frame. This new system has the potential to uncover the functional role of lncRNA markers in a patient-relevant context, identify therapeutic targets against lncRNAs of interest, and finally, to guide the choice of individualized therapeutics.