The scientific activity of the Campania Oncoterapie project in the months of January and February 2020 focused on the preparation of 3D cultures deriving from tumor tissues.
A study was recently published in the prestigious journal Science Translational Medicine. In this study, it is shown how the response of organoids obtained from tumor metastases of colon cancer is comparable to that of patients, thus allowing a preventive screening of the most effective drugs.
This scientific approach is the basis of the project funded by the Campania Region.
Currently, our researchers have perfected the culture conditions for organoids derived from colon cancer. These "mini-organs" can be treated with conventional therapies to analyze the response and evaluate the drug that best induces tumor death and direct the oncologist towards the most effective therapy. In addition, they can be used for the screening of different newly synthesized molecules in order to evaluate their efficacy and toxicity. This approach will reduce the time required for the evaluation of a molecule with a chemotherapeutic action, reduce the risks of experimenting with ineffective molecules and reduce the number of laboratory animals needed to validate its effectiveness.
In our laboratories at EBRIS we have laid the foundation for the medicine of the future.