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The potential application of organoids in breast cancer research and treatment

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Abstract

Tumor heterogeneity is a major challenge for breast cancer researchers who have struggled to find effective treatments despite recent advances in oncology. Although the use of 2D cell culture methods in breast cancer research has been effective, it cannot model the heterogeneity of breast cancer as found within the body. The development of 3D culture of tumor cells and breast cancer organoids has provided a new approach in breast cancer research, allowing the identification of biomarkers, study of the interaction of tumor cells with the microenvironment, and for drug screening and discovery. In addition, the possibility of gene editing in organoids, especially using the CRISPR/Cas9 system, is convenient, and has allowed a more detailed study of tumor behavior in models closer to the physiological condition. The present review covers the application of organoids in breast cancer research. The recent use of gene-editing systems to provide insights into therapeutic approaches for breast cancer, is highlighted. The study of organoids and the possibility of gene manipulation may be a step towards the personalized treatment of breast cancer, which has so far remained unattainable due to the high heterogeneity of breast cancer.

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Acknowledgements

This work was funded by the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (Grant no. R01AI050875).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Genetics, Department of Cell, Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Islamic Republic of Iran

    Nasim Ebrahimi

  2. Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, School of Biological Sciences, Islamic Azad University of Falavarjan, Falavarjan, Iran

    Alireza Nasr Esfahani & Setare Samizade

  3. Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Atena Mansouri

  4. Department of Microbiology, Islamic Azad University of Jahrom, Jahrom, Fars, Iran

    Masoud Ghanaatian

  5. Department of Genetics, Shahrekord University of Medical Sciences, Shahrekord, Iran

    Samaneh Adelian

  6. Faculty of Health Science, Laser Research Centre, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, Johannesburg, 2028, South Africa

    Michael R. Hamblin

  7. Medical Engineering Tissue Engineering, Department of Medical Technologies, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran

    Vida Shadman Manesh

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  1. Nasim Ebrahimi
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  2. Alireza Nasr Esfahani
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  3. Setare Samizade
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  4. Atena Mansouri
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  5. Masoud Ghanaatian
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  6. Samaneh Adelian
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  7. Vida Shadman Manesh
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  8. Michael R. Hamblin
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Contributions

NE and SS designed the review paper and wrote the manuscript, ANE, AM, MG, and SA contributed to writing the manuscript, MRH reviewed and revised the final version of manuscript and supervised the study.

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Correspondence to Michael R. Hamblin.

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Ebrahimi, N., Nasr Esfahani, A., Samizade, S. et al. The potential application of organoids in breast cancer research and treatment. Hum Genet 141, 193–208 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-021-02390-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00439-021-02390-0

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