Author(s): Dias Correia, Cátia ; Calado, Sofia ; Matos, Alexandra ; Oleiro Esteves, Filipa Alexandra ; De Sousa-Coelho, Ana Luísa ; Campinho, Marco António ; Teotónio Fernandes, Mónica Alexandra
Date: 2025
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10400.1/26908
Origin: Sapientia - Universidade do Algarve
Subject(s): Glioblastoma; Brain organoids; Disease models; Drug discovery; Human stem cells; Tumor heterogeneity; Invasion; Microenvironment
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a relatively rare but highly aggressive form of brain cancer characterized by rapid growth, invasiveness, and resistance to standard therapies. Despite significant progress in understanding its molecular and cellular mechanisms, GBM remains one of the most challenging cancers to treat due to its high heterogeneity and complex tumor microenvironment. To address these obstacles, researchers have employed a range of models, including in vitro cell cultures and in vivo animal models, but these often fail to replicate the complexity of GBM. As a result, there has been a growing focus on refining these models by incorporating human-origin cells, along with advanced genetic techniques and stem cell-based bioengineering approaches. In this context, a variety of GBM models based on brain organoids were developed and confirmed to be clinically relevant and are contributing to the advancement of GBM research at the preclinical level. This review explores the preparation and use of brain organoid-based models to deepen our understanding of GBM biology and to explore novel therapeutic approaches. These innovative models hold significant promise for improving our ability to study this deadly cancer and for advancing the development of more effective treatments.
