Genomic and Single-Cell Analyses Characterize Patient-Derived Tumor Organoids to Enable Personalized Therapy for Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) remains a significant health burden because of tumor heterogeneity and treatment resistance, emphasizing the need for improved biological understanding and tailored therapies. In this study, we enrolled 31 patients with HNSCC for the establishment of patient-derived tumor organoids (PDO), which faithfully maintained the genomic features and histopathologic traits of the primary tumors. Long-term culture preserved key characteristics, affirming PDOs as robust representative models. PDOs demonstrated predictive capability for cisplatin treatment responses, with ex vivo drug sensitivity correlating with patient outcomes. Bulk and single-cell RNA sequencing unveiled molecular subtypes and intratumor transcriptional heterogeneity (ITH) in PDOs, paralleling patient tumors. Notably, a hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal transition-like ITH program was associated with cisplatin resistance and poor patient survival. Functional analyses identified amphiregulin as a potential regulator of the hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal state. Moreover, amphiregulin contributed to cisplatin resistance via EGFR pathway activation, corroborated by clinical samples. In summary, HNSCC PDOs serve as reliable and versatile models, offer predictive insights into ITH programs and treatment responses, and uncover potential therapeutic targets for personalized medicine.Significance: Profiling of patient-derived organoids uncovers intertumoral heterogeneity and a hybrid epithelial-mesenchymal transition program conferring cisplatin resistance and highlights amphiregulin as a regulator of cellular plasticity and potential therapeutic target for HNSCC treatment.