2ⁿᵈ Edition of the Cancer R&D World Conference 2026

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is a highly heterogeneous disease comprising distinct molecular subtypes, including luminal A, luminal B, HER2-enriched, and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), each associated with specific molecular and clinical features. This heterogeneity contributes to variable therapeutic responses and clinical outcomes, highlighting the need for more physiologically relevant preclinical models capable of recapitulating the complexity of the tumor microenvironment (TME). Patient-derived organoids (PDOs) have emerged as promising three-dimensional models that preserve key histological and genetic characteristics of the original tumors.

PDOs provide a valuable platform to investigate tumor heterogeneity, cell–cell interactions, drug response, and resistance mechanisms within the TME. In addition, they enable functional studies through co-culture systems with stromal and immune components, offering new insights into tumor biology and personalized therapeutic strategies. In this study, we aim to establish PDOs from breast cancer patient biopsies and use them as a platform to study cellular interactions within the TME through co-culture approaches. Additionally, complementary studies are being performed using MDA-MB-231 and HCT116 cell lines to evaluate the effects of watercress extracts on cell viability, Migration, invasion and apoptosis assays. These findings will subsequently be translated to PDO models to further explore the therapeutic potential of these compounds in a more clinically relevant system.