Elpetra P. M

Abstract Introduction: Pheochromocytomas (PCCs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors with limited treatment options once metastasized. Progress toward effective therapies has been hindered by their rarity, disease heterogeneity, and lack of representative preclinical models. Organoids are three-dimensional, self-renewing structures that recapitulate key features of their tissue of origin, providing valuable platforms for disease modeling, drug screening, and personalized medicine.

1. Introduction Pheochromocytomas and paragangliomas (PPGLs) are neuroendocrine tumors arising from the chromaffin cells in the adrenal medulla (pheochromocytomas, PCCs) or extra-adrenal paraganglia (paragangliomas, PGLs) (1, 2). When biochemically functional, they secrete excessive amounts of catecholamines, causing a variety of nonspecific, potentially fatal, clinical signs, such as tachyarrhythmias, hypertension, abdominal pain, and tachypnea.