Modeling colorectal cancer as a 3-dimensional disease in a dish: the case for drug screening using organoids, zebrafish, and fruit flies

Drug Discov Today Technol. 2013 Spring;10(1):e73-81. doi: 10.1016/j.ddtec.2012.12.005.

Abstract

This review discusses recent shifts in the understanding of colorectal cancer as a stem cell based disease, based on findings that tie patient prognosis to the presence of cancer stem cells in colorectal tumors. Currently no drugs specifically target CSCs in colorectal tumors. However, recent advances in the culturing of colorectal stem cells using mammalian organoids, zebrafish, and Drosophila offer promising avenues for anti-CSC drug discovery.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Antineoplastic Agents / pharmacology
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / drug therapy*
  • Colorectal Neoplasms / metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Drosophila*
  • Drug Evaluation, Preclinical / methods*
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Humans
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / drug effects
  • Neoplastic Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Organoids
  • Zebrafish*

Substances

  • Antineoplastic Agents