Establishment of Uveal Melanoma Patient-Derived Organoids Using an Air–Liquid Interface System for Translational Research

Purpose

Uveal melanoma (UM) is the most common primary intraocular malignancy in adults, with a unique genetic and epigenetic profile and a high metastatic risk. The lack of experimental models to replicate tumor biology, including its epigenetic landscape, limits progress in translational research. Recently, patient-derived organoid (PDO) models have emerged as a promising tool for the modeling of various tumors, including UM. This study aims to establish an air–liquid interface (ALI) PDO culture system for UM, evaluate its similarity to the primary tumors, and assess its utility for drug screening.