Definition

A 3-dimensional, mini-organ-like structure made by growing a person’s tumor cells or stem cells (cells from which other types of cells develop) in the laboratory. Organoids contain many types of cells and closely mimic the structure, organization, and some of the functions of human tissues and organs. Organoids made from a person’s tumor cells have histologic, genomic, molecular, and other features that are similar to those found in the original tumor. Organoids are used in the laboratory to study how normal tissues or diseases, such as cancer, form and to test new drugs and other types of treatment before they are given to people.