[Press Release] Mini-Organs (Organoids) Derived from Lung Cancer Reveal Why Tumors Relapse After Becoming Resistant to Anticancer Drugs—New Hope for Post-Relapse Treatment of EGFR-Mutant Lung Cancer—
A research team led by Associate Professor Hiroyuki Yasuda, Assistant Professor Taro Shinozaki (at the time of the study), Assistant Professor Junko Hamamoto, and Professor Toshiro Sato successfully established lung cancer “organoids”—miniature organ-like models—from patients with lung cancer. Using these patient-derived organoids, the team elucidated mechanisms underlying tumor recurrence after treatment with anticancer drugs, specifically EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors (EGFR-TKIs), and also identified candidate drugs that may be effective after relapse. The detailed findings of this study were published online in Nature Communications on May 11, 2025 (UK time).