Study on the Mechanism of ADC Drug Evaluation Based on Immune Co-culture of Lung Cancer Organoids

Overview

A case-control study was conducted to evaluate the efficacy and mechanism of action of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in lung cancer, utilizing patient-derived organoid (PDO)-immune co-cultures. Focusing on HER2-positive and TROP2-positive non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases, ADC candidates were screened for in vitro activity based on organoid-immune interaction models. Key assessments included: Tumor killing efficiency, assessed by dose-response relationships; Drug internalization (cellular uptake), as a measure of penetration into cancer cells; Antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and bystander effect, with negative control targets employed to delineate specificity; Single-cell RNA sequencing, to profile transcriptional alterations at single-cell resolution. Data demonstrated distinct ADC responses correlating with target expression and immune microenvironment features. The integrated approach provided cell-based evidence of ADC potency and revealed mechanistic insights-including immune-mediated cytotoxicity pathways and intracellular trafficking-supporting the rational design of clinical trials. These findings established a foundation for precision immunotherapy strategies and offered a mechanistic rationale for patient selection in HER2/TROP2-positive lung cancer.

A case-control study was conducted to systematically evaluate the therapeutic efficacy and underlying mechanisms of antibody-drug conjugates (ADCs) in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), utilizing an integrated patient-derived organoid (PDO)-immune cell co-culture platform. Focusing on HER2-positive and TROP2-positive NSCLC cases, a comprehensive research pipeline was established, comprising three core components: the construction of a PDO-immune co-culture model, multidimensional tumor killing assessment, and mechanistic dissection of cellular internalization. Clinically resected tumor tissues and malignant pleural effusion specimens were harvested to generate PDOs, which were rigorously validated for histological fidelity and phenotypic stability via H\&E staining and TTF-1 immunohistochemistry; cases were subsequently stratified based on HER2/TROP2 expression intensity. The functional integrity of the co-culture system was confirmed through flow cytometric analysis of immune cell purity and activation status, coupled with ELISA quantification of cytokines to verify effective immune-tumor crosstalk. Pharmacodynamic evaluations were performed using ATP-based viability assays, PDO viability imaging, and Caspase-3/7 apoptosis detection. These assays simulated clinically relevant peak plasma concentrations (C max) to directly reflect in vivo drug exposure, while also assessing the synergistic potential of "ADC + Immuno-oncology" combination strategies to optimize clinical dosing regimens. Mechanistically, pHrodo dye tracking was employed to visualize and quantify cellular internalization and phagocytosis, complemented by single-cell RNA sequencing to delineate transcriptional profiles and identify specific subpopulations sensitive to ADC therapy. Furthermore, high-sensitivity Olink proteomics and multiplex fluorescence immunohistochemistry provided "cellular-molecular-spatial" evidence of immune activation and intracellular trafficking dynamics. Collectively, the data revealed that distinct ADC responses correlated with target expression and the immune microenvironment, precisely characterizing the molecular signatures of sensitive cell subpopulations and their enhanced endocytic activity. These findings provide critical molecular targets and a theoretical basis for patient selection and the rational design of next-generation ADC therapies in HER2/TROP2-positive lung cancer.