Breast cancer is the most common tumor among women worldwide and has a profound impact on individuals and society. Aside from being a leading cause of cancer-related death, patients often undergo invasive treatments such as surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy, which may result in long-term side effects and reduced quality of life. Additionally, the healthcare burden of breast cancer is immense. This makes effective, timely, and personalized treatments a critical need.
A recent study published in Scientific Reports presents a microfluidic-based method for growing breast cancer organoids that significantly reduces the culture time while maintaining essential structural and drug response characteristics. This method could be the key to developing personalized breast cancer treatments in the future.
The Need for Faster and More Efficient Organoid Cultures
Organoid technology allows scientists to culture patient-derived tumor cells in three-dimensional structures. These organoids closely resemble the genetic and histological characteristics of the original tumors, making them invaluable for studying cancer behavior and drug responses specific to individual patients. However, conventional organoid culture methods, such as the “dome” technique, require lengthy culture periods—often over three weeks. Delays in organoid culture can be particularly harmful when treating aggressive, fast-growing tumors, as they may prevent timely assessment of drug effectiveness and hinder personalized treatment planning in clinical settings.
A new dynamic microfluidic culture system aims to address these challenges by providing a continuous and stable supply of nutrients to organoids.
A New Approach: Microfluidic Organoids
Researchers tested this novel system by culturing breast cancer organoids using both the conventional dome method and the new fluidic dome (Flow) method. Over a two-week observation period, they found that organoids grown in the Flow system were significantly larger and more viable than those in the Dome group. (Cell viability was assessed using the CellTiter-Glo 3D Assay) Interestingly, the organoid morphology remained solid in the Flow group, whereas those in the Dome group underwent hollowing, a phenomenon in which internal structure of the organoid develops a hollow or empty space over time. This structural change makes the Dome organoid less representative of the original tumor and might reduce the accuracy of drug sensitivity analysis.
Further experiments confirmed that the mechanical effects of fluid flow, rather than just the stability of nutrient supply, were responsible for this enhanced growth. The dynamic culture system maintained cellular viability and preserved the molecular markers of the original tumor tissue.
Drug Sensitivity and Clinical Implications
An essential advantage of tumor organoids is their ability to predict patient responses to chemotherapy. In this study, the researchers tested the sensitivity of breast cancer organoids to multiple chemotherapeutic drugs (e.g., olaparib, capecitabine, cisplatin, gemcitabine, and pharmorubicin). The drug response patterns were consistent between organoids cultured in static and fluidic conditions, suggesting that the new system does not alter drug sensitivity outcomes.
Importantly, patients whose tumors showed high sensitivity to pharmorubicin in organoid cultures also responded positively to the drug treatment. These findings indicate that drug sensitivity tests using microfluidic organoids can reliably predict how patients will respond to treatment, and may help guide personalized treatment strategies in the future.
The Role of Fluid Shear Stress in Tumor Organoids
Unique to the Flow system, the mechanical force exerted by fluid movement on cells, known as “fluid shear stress,” appears to play a crucial role in organoid growth and gene expression. Long-term cultures in the Flow system prevented hollowing and led to changes in the arrangement of cancer cells, mimicking natural tissue structure. Additionally, gene expression analysis showed alterations in key genes associated with drug resistance and proliferation, suggesting that fluid conditions could influence tumor cell behavior in ways relevant to both research and therapy.
Future Prospects: A Step Toward Precision Medicine
Results from this study mark a significant advancement in the use of organoid technology for breast cancer research. By reducing culture time and maintaining clinically relevant features, the dynamic culture system has the potential to streamline drug testing and improve patient-specific treatment strategies.
As the field of cancer research moves toward more personalized approaches, refining organoid culture techniques will be key to unlocking the full potential of precision medicine. This breakthrough brings us one step closer to a future where tailored treatments can be identified quickly and effectively, improving outcomes for breast cancer patients worldwide.
Reference: Yang, J. et al. (2025) Dynamic culture system advances the applications of breast cancer organoids for precision medicine. Sci. Rep. 15, 8852.
Interested in learning more about 3D culture? Read our 3D Culture Guide.
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