[Advances in the application of patient-derived organoid models in urothelial cancer research].

Urothelial carcinoma (UC), including bladder urothelial carcinoma and upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC), is the most common malignant tumor in the urinary system. Traditional cell line models fall short in simulating its tumor microenvironment and in vivo behavior. Patient-derived organoid (PDO) models offer a new way to overcome these shortcomings. This paper reviews the construction techniques of PDO models in UC, their biological simulation capabilities, and their applications in preclinical research. It also analyzes the technical limitations of these models. PDO models can retain the histological, genomic, and transcriptomic features of the parent tumor and accurately simulate the tumor microenvironment and biological behavior. They have been widely used in bladder cancer research, providing a precise platform for drug screening, personalized treatment, and immunotherapy evaluation. However, their use in UTUC research is still in its infancy. In the future, through technological optimization, PDO models are expected to enhance their value in UC research, advancing precision medicine research and clinical translation.