The Polymer Society of Korea

Abstract

Organoids are three-dimensional mini-organ structures that serve as powerful tools for investigating tissue development, disease mechanisms, and drug responses. In cancer research, faithfully replicating patient-specific tumor characteristics is critical for developing clinically relevant models. Matrigel, the most commonly used scaffold for organoid culture, provides an ECM-like environment but lacks tissue specificity, which can limit physiological accuracy and translational value. In this study, we explore the use of decellularized extracellular matrix derived from intestinal tissue (Intestine ECM) as a tissue-specific scaffold for culturing colorectal cancer organoids and establishing cell-derived xenograft (CDX) models. By mimicking the native tumor microenvironment more effectively than Matrigel, Intestine ECM may enhance model reproducibility and better reflect in vivo tumor behavior, offering improved platforms for mechanistic studies and therapeutic screening in CRC research.