Malignant pleural mesothelioma is a cancer mainly caused by asbestos exposure that is very deadly. Research continues to be done on the cancer, giving hope to patients and their families. One tool in the fight against mesothelioma is ex-vivo models using precision cut tumor slices. A new article looks at ex-vivo models and precision cut tumor slices and their importance in mesothelioma treatment and research.
Ex-vivo models are studies done outside the human body. The study mimics the body’s natural environment but is done outside the body. This is the opposite of in-vivo, which are studies done inside the human body and different from in-vitro, which is a study done in a petri dish. Ex-vivo models can sometimes be more beneficial because they maintain a tissue’s complexity. This can allow researchers to create very realistic studies that look at cell interactions.
Precision cut tumor slices (PCTS) are ex-vivo models made up of thin slices of tumor tissue from a patient’s tumor. The slices are kept in culture, which helps to preserve the tumor’s architecture and microenvironment. Another advantage is the ability to test individual responses. Since PCTS are from patient tumors, specific therapies can be tested, like immunotherapy, to see if they could potentially work for individual patients. PCTS also allow for detailed analysis. Thorough molecular and cellular examinations can be performed thanks to PCTS. This can provide insights into how specific treatments affect tumor cells and the microenvironment. PCTS also have challenges. When precision cut tumor slices are made, the tissue is stressed. This is due to the cutting and changing of the environment of the tissue. This can alter gene expression. Knowing this, researchers need to interpret results in a certain way so that the information is not misleading.
The utilization of ex-vivo models like precision cut tumor slices advances treatments for mesothelioma and boosts personalized medicine. PCTS allow researchers to test how tumors respond to treatments. This could then lead to better, more customized therapies, which then improve outcomes and quality of life. Ex-vivo models, like the use of precision cut tumor slices, are promising for cancer research. They offer a realistic way for researchers to look at tumor biology and treatment responses. As treatments and research progress, ex-vivo models like PCTS will play a major role in the treatment of mesothelioma and other hard to treat cancers. New treatments can be developed from studies like precision cut tumor slices. By linking lab research to clinical practice, models like PCTS help us get one step closer to more effective, personalized cancer treatments.
