Conventional cancer therapies usually take into account personal information such as age and gender, cancer type and stage, histological information and selected genetic data. However, none of this gives a clear indication of how a patient will respond to a particular treatment.

This is why the researchers are now using a different approach: With their new "ISPOT-K" method, they combine in vitro test results with computer models to create a digital twin of each individual colorectal cancer patient. Tumor tissue samples are taken from colorectal cancer patients and transformed into 3D organoids. These are then exposed to a range of anti-cancer drugs to predict how the patient will respond to the treatment. The data is combined with detailed molecular and physical information of the patient.

The data is then used by the Bonn Center for Mathematical Life Sciences at the University of Bonn for computational modeling to create a digital twin. The digital twin can be utilized then to simulate how a particular tumor would react to different treatments so that the best possible dosing strategy can be recommended.

The digital twin is also suitable for reducing animal testing in drug development.

The BMBF is funding ISPOT-K with 1.1 million euros.

Source and further information:
Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn (2025). Creating Personalized Cancer Treatments Using “Mini-Tumors” and a Digital Twin. Press release 25.02.25.
https://www.ukbnewsroom.de/mit-mini-tumor-und-digitalem-zwilling-zur-personalisierten-krebstherapie/