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Gastrointestinal (GI) cancers (gastric cancer, oesophageal cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, etc.) are the most common cancers with the highest morbidity and mortality in the world. The therapy for most GI cancers is difficult and is associated with a poor prognosis. In China, upper GI cancers, mainly gastric cancer (GC) and oesophageal cancer (EC), are very common due to Chinese people's characteristics, and more than half of patients are diagnosed with distant metastatic or locally advanced disease. Compared to other solid cancers, such as lung cancer and breast cancer, personalized therapies, especially targeted therapy and immunotherapy, in GC and EC are relatively lacking, leading to poor prognosis. For a long time, most studies were carried out by using in vitro cancer cell lines or in vivo cell line-derived xenograft models, which are unable to reproduce the characteristics of tumours derived from patients, leading to the possible misguidance of subsequent clinical validation. The patient-derived models represented by patient-derived organoid (PDO) and xenograft (PDX) models, known for their high preservation of patient tumour features, have emerged as a very popular platform that has been widely used in numerous studies, especially in the research and development of antitumour drugs and personalized medicine. Herein, based on some of the available published literature, we review the research and application status of PDO and PDX models in GC and EC, as well as detail their future challenges and prospects, to promote their use in basic and translational studies or personalized therapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Organoid models can partially restore the tissue and molecular characteristics of cells in the body, which is a preclinical model with good potential. Compared with precise and regenerative medicine methods, organoids with tissue organ functions can simulate body organs to the greatest extent. Moreover, organoid drug sensitivity data is more accurate than whole-genome sequencing. The technology for organoids can be combined with in vitro gene editing technology to achieve a genetic modification at organ level. OBJECTIVE: To summarize and analyze the research hotpots of organoid models in domestic and foreign databases in the past 10 years. METHODS: A computer search of WanFang, Web of Science, Chinese Clinical Trial Registry, ClinicalTrials.org and SooPAT was performed for articles regarding organoids in the past 10 years, and the research hotspots of organoid models were analyzed and concluded. RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: (1) Retrieval results of WanFang database: A total of 187 articles were included. In 2019, Chinese research on organoids showed an explosive growth. Among them, there were more studies on intestinal organoid models. The main application areas included precision medicine, tumor research and personalized medicine. (2) Retrieval results of the Web of Science Core Collection: A total of 2 450 articles were included. Twenty highly cited articles were analyzed using Histcite software. Among them, five classic original articles of organoids were screened out, and introduced intestinal organoids, pluripotent stem cell-derived three-dimensional brain organoids, prostate cancer organoids cultured from biopsy specimens and circulating tumor cells for a long time, kidney organoids containing nephrons, and three-dimensional organoid models of human stomach tissue, which are the pioneers in various fields and lay the foundation for future research on organoids. (3) Retrieval results of Chinese Clinical Trial Registry and ClinicalTrials.org: There were 13 study protocols related to organoid research in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry and 23 in the ClinicalTrials.org. Research on clinical application of organoids in the United States is more extensive and develops earlier, but there are mostly cohort studies and single-arm trials. In recent years, China has achieved some results in the field of clinical organoid research, and two high-profile randomized controlled trials are underway. (4) Retrieval results of SooPAT Chinese patent database: There were 55 authorized patents, mainly involving the new culture method of 3D brain organoids, the research and development of highthroughput 3D cell, tissue-like and organoid dynamic culture systems. At present, researchers have successfully constructed a variety of organoid models, such as intestine, brain, kidney and various cancer tissues. However, due to insufficient evidence of clinical randomized controlled trials, the clinical applicability remains to be explored. Tumor organoids that are directly generated by tumor tissues of cancer patients in vitro can be used to analyze potential drug targets, screen anti-cancer drugs and develop new anti-tumor drugs, which will be the main research directions in the field of organoids in the future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]