Patient-derived organoid elucidates the identical clonal origin of bilateral breast cancer with diverse molecular subtypes

Advanced Animal Replacement Testing Strategies Using Stem Cell and Organoids

The increasing ethical concerns and regulatory restrictions surrounding animal testing have accelerated the development of advanced in vitro models that more accurately replicate human physiology. Among these, stem cell-based systems and organoids have emerged as revolutionary tools, providing ethical, scalable, and physiologically relevant alternatives. This review explores the key trends and driving factors behind the adoption of these models, such as technological advancements, the principles of the 3Rs (Replacement, Reduction, and Refinement), and growing regulatory support from agencies like the OECD and FDA. It also delves into the development and application of various model systems, including 3D reconstructed tissues, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cells, and microphysiological systems, highlighting their potential to replace animal models in toxicity evaluation, disease modeling, and drug development. A critical aspect of implementing these models is ensuring robust quality control protocols to enhance reproducibility and standardization, which is necessary for gaining regulatory acceptance. Additionally, we discuss advanced strategies for assessing toxicity and efficacy, focusing on organ-specific evaluation methods and applications in diverse fields such as pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food safety. Despite existing challenges related to scalability, standardization, and regulatory alignment, these innovative models represent a transformative step towards reducing animal use and improving the relevance and reliability of preclinical testing outcomes.

The Use of Patient-Derived Organoids in the Study of Molecular Metabolic Adaptation in Breast Cancer

Around 13% of women will likely develop breast cancer during their lifetime. Advances in cancer metabolism research have identified a range of metabolic reprogramming events, such as altered glucose and amino acid uptake, increased reliance on glycolysis, and interactions with the tumor microenvironment (TME), all of which present new opportunities for targeted therapies. However, studying these metabolic networks is challenging in traditional 2D cell cultures, which often fail to replicate the three-dimensional architecture and dynamic interactions of real tumors. To address this, organoid models have emerged as powerful tools. Tumor organoids are 3D cultures, often derived from patient tissue, that more accurately mimic the structural and functional properties of actual tumor tissues in vivo, offering a more realistic model for investigating cancer metabolism. This review explores the unique metabolic adaptations of breast cancer and discusses how organoid models can provide deeper insights into these processes. We evaluate the most advanced tools for studying cancer metabolism in three-dimensional culture models, including optical metabolic imaging (OMI), matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization mass spectrometry imaging (MALDI-MSI), and recent advances in conventional techniques applied to 3D cultures. Finally, we explore the progress made in identifying and targeting potential therapeutic targets in breast cancer metabolism.