Understanding Organoid Testing

What You Need to Know

If you or a loved one has been diagnosed with cancer, you're facing one of the most important decisions of your life: which treatment will work best?

Traditional approaches rely on population statistics—what works for most people with your type of cancer. But your tumor is unique to you.

Organoid testing offers a different approach: test the drugs on your tumor cells before you start treatment.

What Are Organoids?

Think of organoids as "mini-tumors" grown from your actual cancer cells in a laboratory.

Here's how it works:

Your doctor takes a small sample of your tumor (from a biopsy or surgery you're already having)
Scientists grow your tumor cells in the lab in a special 3D environment that mimics how they grow in your body
These mini-tumors are called "organoids" — they behave like your real tumor, but outside your body
Doctors can test many different drugs on your organoids to see which ones work best

The key insight:

Your organoids respond to drugs the same way your actual tumor will.

Why Does This Matter?

The Traditional Approach

Typically, cancer treatment follows this path:

Doctor recommends "standard of care" treatment based on your cancer type
You receive 2-3 months of treatment
Scans show if it's working
If not, try a different drug
Repeat until you find something that works

The problem: You might spend months on treatments that aren't helping while your cancer progresses.

The Organoid Approach

With organoid testing, your treatment path changes:

Small tumor sample is collected
Lab tests dozens or hundreds of drugs on your organoids
Results show which drugs your tumor is sensitive to
Your doctor prescribes the most effective option first
You start treatment with confidence

The benefit:

You're more likely to get an effective treatment on the first try.

What the Research Shows

This isn't experimental—it's validated by major medical research:

87-96% accuracy in predicting which drugs will or won't work for you
Patients lived longer when doctors used organoid testing to guide treatment
Saved money by avoiding ineffective treatments
Works across many cancer types — colon, pancreatic, ovarian, breast, and more

Learn more about the clinical evidence →

What to Expect

Timeline

Sample collection: During your scheduled biopsy or surgery (no extra procedure needed)
Lab processing: 7-14 days to grow organoids
Drug testing: 7-10 days to test drugs
Results: Complete report to your doctor in 4-6 weeks

Your Sample

We only need a small amount of tissue:

From a biopsy you're already having, or
From tumor tissue removed during surgery, or
Sometimes from fluid samples (like ascites)

No extra procedures. No added pain or risk.

The Report

Your oncologist receives a detailed report showing:

Which drugs your tumor is highly sensitive to
Which drugs your tumor is moderately sensitive to
Which drugs your tumor is resistant to
How this integrates with your genomic testing results

Is This Right for You?

Organoid testing may be especially helpful if:

You have advanced or metastatic cancer with multiple treatment options
Standard treatments haven't worked for you (refractory or recurrent cancer)
You have a rare cancer type with limited treatment data
You want to avoid ineffective treatments and their side effects
You're considering clinical trials and want to know which approach to prioritize

Important: This test doesn't replace your oncologist's expertise—it gives them better information to make treatment decisions.

Questions You Might Have

Will my insurance cover this?

Coverage is evolving. Some insurers cover functional testing, especially for advanced cancers. Our team can help verify your coverage and explore financial assistance options.

Is this FDA-approved?

Organoid testing is a laboratory-developed test (LDT), similar to many genomic tests your doctor already uses. It's performed in certified labs following strict quality standards.

How is this different from genomic testing?

Genomic testing tells you what mutations your tumor has.
Organoid testing tells you which drugs will actually work on your tumor.

They're complementary—OncoForma integrates both to give the most complete picture.

What if my tumor doesn't grow in the lab?

Success rates are high (85-95%), but occasionally organoids don't grow. If this happens, there's no charge for the testing attempt.

Can I request this test myself?

Organoid testing requires your oncologist's order and coordination. Talk to your doctor about whether this is right for your situation.

Real Stories, Real Hope

"After two failed chemotherapy regimens, organoid testing found a drug that actually worked. I've had stable disease for 8 months now—that's precious time with my grandchildren." — Sarah M., colorectal cancer patient

"My tumor had a BRCA mutation, but the PARP inhibitor wasn't working. Organoid testing showed my tumor was actually sensitive to a platinum-based drug. That information changed everything." — David L., pancreatic cancer patient

Take the Next Step

Ready to explore whether organoid testing is right for you?

1. Download our patient guide — Share it with your oncologist
Download PDF →

2. Review questions to ask your doctor
View discussion guide →

3. Contact us with questions
Get in touch →

Bring these questions to your next appointment:

Could organoid testing help guide my treatment decisions?
Do you have experience with functional drug screening?
Would you be open to ordering this test if appropriate?
How would the results influence my treatment plan?

We're here to support you and your oncologist every step of the way.

OncoForma believes every patient deserves the most personalized, effective treatment possible. We're here to help make that a reality.