Fusion oncogenes in cancer: organoid models and novel therapeutic approaches
摘要
Oncogenic fusions, arising from chromosomal rearrangements, occur in several cancers, particularly in those of pediatric origin. Advances in sequencing technologies have improved fusion detection; yet, understanding their mechanisms and tumorigenic potential remains challenging. This is partly due to the limited availability of faithful human-based model systems. Organoids have emerged as a physiologically relevant model system with in vivo-like traits and have recently allowed to obtain novel mechanistic and therapeutic insights for oncogenic fusion-bearing cancers. This review discusses how, through bottom-up tumor modeling as well as tumoroid derivation, these models are being employed to increase our understanding of fusion-bearing cancers, and how they can help future therapeutic discovery for these tumors.