Cancer Dependency Map Adds Next-Gen 3D Models
The Broad Institute has expanded its Cancer Dependency Map (DepMap) to include nearly 150 3D cancer models, such as organoids and spheroids. This update allows researchers to better identify genetic vulnerabilities in tumors that are not visible in traditional 2D models.
Why it matters
Advancements in cancer modeling are critical for developing more effective, targeted drug therapies for various cancer types.
August 5, 2026 (Cambridge, MA) - For nearly a decade, the Cancer Dependency Map , or DepMap, at the Broad Institute has helped scientists uncover new cancer dependencies - the genetic changes some cancers need to thrive that can potentially be targeted by new cancer drugs.
Now, project scientists have expanded the DepMap resource to include nearly 150 cancer models that grow as 3D cultures, also known as organoids or spheroids, across 10 cancer types. By integrating this data into the DepMap's existing dataset on more than a thousand 2D cancer models, the team has made the DepMap a more comprehensive resource for researchers that promises to reveal more drug targets and disease-driving mechanisms for more cancer types.
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