Establishing mesothelioma patient-derived organoid models from malignant pleural effusions

Pleural mesothelioma is an aggressive cancer arising in the mesothelial cells that line the lungs and the chest wall. Mesothelioma is characterized by mutations in tumor suppressor genes, including cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A (CDKN2A) and BRAC1-associated protein (BAP1), that, at present, are difficult to target therapeutically [1]. First-line treatment for unresectable mesothelioma is combination chemotherapy of cisplatin plus pemetrexed. Unfortunately, approximately 60  % of mesothelioma patients do not respond significantly to chemotherapy, and those that do eventually become resistant [2].
Source: Lung Cancer - Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Source Type: research