Organoids as representative models for childhood solid tumors

Organoids are therefore seen as avatars of the tissue they were derived from. The Drost group pioneered the use of organoid technology for pediatric cancer research. We succeeded in establishing culture protocols to grow organoids from a wide spectrum of pediatric malignancies such as Wilms tumors, renal cell carcinomas, as well as different rhabdoid tumor and soft tissue sarcoma subtypes. We use these models to study the very fundamental processes underlying tumorigenesis (see below), as well as for more translational research projects. For instance, we use the organoids as a drug screen platform to find tumor-specific drug vulnerabilities, but we also develop co-culture systems of organoids and different types of immune cells to explore the use of immunotherapy in pediatric cancer.