Basel, Switzerland - April 24, 2024

There has been a revolutionary breakthrough in colorectal cancer research. These tiny tissue structures, called “mini-columns,” have revolutionized the way scientists study tumor development, offering a more accurate and complex model than ever before.

Traditionally, cancer research has relied on animal models and simplified cell cultures, which, although valuable, cannot fully capture the complexities of tumor development. Even newer models, such as organoids, have limitations in reproducing the features of real tumors.

In a remarkable breakthrough detailed in the journal Nature, scientists from EPFL, including Luis Francisco Lorenzo Martin and Tanja Hübscher, together with collaborators from the Roche Institute of Human Biology, have created mini-columns that closely mimic the structure and cellular diversity of real colon tissue. intestines.

What sets these mini-columns apart is their ability to induce tumors to develop in specific locations using optogenetics, an advanced technique that uses light to control biological processes. This innovative approach allows researchers to observe tumor formation in real time and gain unprecedented insight into cancer evolution.

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