Patient derived organoids to model rare prostate cancer phenotypes

Loredana Puca, Rohan Bareja, Davide Prandi, Reid Shaw, Matteo Benelli, Wouter R. Karthaus, Judy Hess, Michael Sigouros, Adam Donoghue, Myriam Kossai, Dong Gao, Joanna Cyrta, Verena Sailer, Aram Vosoughi, Chantal Pauli, Yelena Churakova, Cynthia Cheung, Lesa Dayal Deonarine, Terra J. McNary, Rachele RosatiScott T. Tagawa, David M. Nanus, Juan Miguel Mosquera, Charles L. Sawyers, Yu Chen, Giorgio Inghirami, Rema A. Rao, Carla Grandori, Olivier Elemento, Andrea Sboner, Francesca Demichelis, Mark A. Rubin, Himisha Beltran

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

230 Scopus citations

Abstract

A major hurdle in the study of rare tumors is a lack of existing preclinical models. Neuroendocrine prostate cancer is an uncommon and aggressive histologic variant of prostate cancer that may arise de novo or as a mechanism of treatment resistance in patients with pre-existing castration-resistant prostate cancer. There are few available models to study neuroendocrine prostate cancer. Here, we report the generation and characterization of tumor organoids derived from needle biopsies of metastatic lesions from four patients. We demonstrate genomic, transcriptomic, and epigenomic concordance between organoids and their corresponding patient tumors. We utilize these organoids to understand the biologic role of the epigenetic modifier EZH2 in driving molecular programs associated with neuroendocrine prostate cancer progression. High-throughput organoid drug screening nominated single agents and drug combinations suggesting repurposing opportunities. This proof of principle study represents a strategy for the study of rare cancer phenotypes.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Article number2404
JournalNature communications
Volume9
Issue number1
DOIs
StatePublished - Dec 1 2018
Externally publishedYes

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • General Chemistry
  • General Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology
  • General Physics and Astronomy

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