Drug development using pancreatic and lung organoid models

Human and mouse organoids have been successfully and routinely established for a number tissues reflecting normal and disease states. Organoids reflecting human pancreas and lung tumors have been established and used in target validation studies, overexpressing and knocking down target genes and increasingly in drug discovery studies, seeking context-specific inhibitors of these tumor types. Validation of cancer drug target engagement in animal models is a critical step in drug discovery and development. This review examines the utility and challenges of drug development and precision medicine for organoid cultures in these two cancer types.