Translational applications and clinical utility of organoids in ovarian cancer: a systematic review.

In 30 seconds

This systematic review synthesized 13 studies of patient-derived organoids (PDOs) in ovarian cancer, assessing feasibility, histological fidelity, and agreement between organoid drug sensitivity and clinical outcomes. The pooled mean success rate for obtaining organoids in early passages was 71%; this does not represent establishment of stable, long-term lines. The review reports that 92.3% of studies found high concordance for platinum and PARP inhibitor sensitivity with patient outcomes, although some models showed important discordance. PDO drug screening was described as feasible within a clinically actionable 21-day window.

Key findings

• The pooled mean success rate for obtaining patient-derived tumor organoids in early passages was 71%.
• 92.3% of included studies reported high concordance between organoid drug sensitivity and patient outcomes for platinum and PARP inhibitors.
• The review describes functional drug screening within a clinically actionable 21-day window.
• Inconsistent reporting of sample-size denominators prevented direct comparison of stable, long-term organoid establishment rates.

Why it matters

Organoids may offer a functional way to assess tumor drug sensitivity that reflects individual tumor heterogeneity, potentially complementing population-level treatment guidance. The reported concordance and short assay window are promising, but discordant models and uncertainty about long-term line establishment mean that feasibility should not be equated with reliable prediction for every patient.

What to keep in mind

Most included studies used short-term cultures, and inconsistent reporting of total sample sizes prevented comparison of long-term establishment rates. Some models showed discordance between organoid sensitivity and patient outcomes.