Implanted Tumor Cells in Fish Could Open New Doors for Personalized Cancer Therapies
January 05, 2025
Could zebrafish help oncologists make better cancer treatment decisions? A groundbreaking clinical trial launching this month in Portugal aims to find out. Spearheaded by developmental biologist Rita Fior of the Champalimaud Foundation, the 5-year study is the first randomized trial where cancer patients will receive treatments pre-tested on zebrafish embryos implanted with their tumor cells.
Retrospective studies suggest these "zebrafish avatars" could have identified effective therapies if used earlier. Fior’s team is now testing whether this approach can directly benefit patients. “Everyone is searching for more predictive models to determine how therapies will affect tumors,” notes Leonard Zon, a stem cell biologist at Harvard Medical School not involved in the trial. While other cancer avatars—like mice, fruit flies, and cell cultures—serve as personalized testbeds, they have notable limitations. Zon adds, “If the zebrafish model proves highly predictive, it could revolutionize cancer treatment.”
Oncologists face significant challenges due to the variability of tumors, including differences in genetics, metabolism, and growth patterns. These complexities often force patients to endure multiple rounds of harsh treatments to find one that works. While genomic analysis can narrow options, it doesn’t guarantee success, even when specific mutations suggest a targeted therapy.
If successful, this study could establish zebrafish avatars as a fast, effective tool to personalize cancer treatments, sparing patients unnecessary hardship and accelerating access to life-saving therapies.
CREDITS: SCIENCE JOURNALS