Patient-derived organoids are an innovative alternative
The recent resolution of the National Council for Animal Experimentation (Concea) of the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), prohibiting the use of animals in the research, development and control of cosmetics , personal care products and perfumes, has had a positive impact by responding to a long-standing request from the general community, humane societies, industries and scientists, bringing Brazilian legislation closer to international legislation .
According to the Humane Society International (HSI), an international organization which defends the end of animal and human cruelty, in addition to the ethical question, there is much debate on the necessity of these “tests on animals”, knowing that the effects felt by animals will not necessarily be the same as those felt by humans. As studies deepen, scientists have a better understanding of how human biology works and are beginning to understand the unreliability of animal models. Considering that less than 2% of human diseases are observed in animals and that animal tests, compared to human results, only agree in 5 to 25% of cases, the results indicate that 95% of approved drugs by this type of test are immediately rejected as useless or dangerous for humans.
The search for alternatives has accelerated because innovative therapies, based on human genes and cells or even personalized for patients, may not work in animals. Many drugs that work in mice don’t work well in humans, and vice versa. In cancer, the statistics are particularly striking: studies have shown that tumor-derived organoids are approximately 80% predictive of drug efficacy, far exceeding the average 8% accuracy rate in animal models. .
In addition to use in research, it is true that the future of medicine increasingly depends on precision actions. An example of this technological advancement personalized for patients is the use of PDOs (Patient Derived Organoids) in clinical practice, which help to analyze tumor development and its response to drug exposure.
Invitrocue Brasil’s investments in organoid technology led to the Onco-PDOTM test. The three-dimensional cell culture that best reflects in vitro the observed in vivo conditions of your original tumor. The technology of the innovative test makes it possible to recreate in a controlled environment organoids from the patient’s own tumor cells that have been removed by biopsies or during surgery. These patient-derived organoids are nurtured, grow and self-assemble in the laboratory in a manner similar to that seen in the body. By exposing AOPs to different treatments, it is possible to assess which therapies induced cancer cell death, providing data that allows oncologists to better understand the tumor response and thus develop a more assertive treatment plan, c ie custom treatment.
The Onco-PDOTM test takes into account that each patient is unique, which helps the doctor to make the best choice for that specific patient. Some tumors are resistant to certain drugs and knowing beforehand the responses of the patient’s tumor cells to the various treatments in the laboratory contributes to the decision-making of oncologists. Available in Brazil for breast, lung, colorectal, pancreatic, stomach, prostate and ovarian cancer, the Onco-PDOTM test allows the doctor to choose 8 of 60 drugs to be tested and the result will demonstrate how cells responded in the laboratory, being a valuable tool for the oncologist.
The Onco-PDOTM test can be picked up throughout Brazil. For more information, consult your doctor and Invitrocue Brasil.
About Invitrocue Brazil
Invitrocue Brasil started operations in the country in 2020, developing and commercializing several bioanalytical technologies, including 3D cell culture.
Technical manager in Brazil: Invitrocue Brazil – Dra. Danielle Ferreira (CRBM: 42180 – 1st Region)