We use cookies to understand how you use our site and to improve your experience. This includes personalizing content and advertising. To learn more, click here. By continuing to use our site, you accept our use of cookies. Cookie Policy.

Features Partner Sites Information LinkXpress hp
Sign In
Advertise with Us
LGC Clinical Diagnostics

Download Mobile App




Organoids Aid Discovery of New Approaches for Treating Pancreatic Cancer

By LabMedica International staff writers
Posted on 25 Jan 2015
Print article
Image: Researchers have developed a three-dimensional culture system to grow organoids from mouse and human pancreatic tissue. The technology promises to change the way pancreatic cancer research is done, offering a path to personalized treatment approaches (Photo courtesy of Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory).
Image: Researchers have developed a three-dimensional culture system to grow organoids from mouse and human pancreatic tissue. The technology promises to change the way pancreatic cancer research is done, offering a path to personalized treatment approaches (Photo courtesy of Cold Springs Harbor Laboratory).
Cancer researchers have established a method for culturing organoids from normal and cancerous mouse and human pancreatic tissues that is expected to boost development of personalized treatment approaches for this deadly disease.

Since pancreatic cancer is one of the most lethal malignancies due to its late diagnosis and limited response to treatment, methods to identify and study molecular pathways involved in tumor development are urgently needed. Towards this end investigators at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory (NY, USA) established organoid models from normal and cancerous mouse and human pancreas tissues. Pancreatic organoids could be rapidly generated from resected tumors and biopsies, survive cryopreservation, and exhibit ductal- and disease-stage-specific characteristics. Normal ductal cells that are able to develop into pancreatic cancer represent only about 10% of the cells in the pancreas, but the organoids were entirely composed of ductal cells, which eliminated surrounding cell types that often contaminate pancreatic samples.

Details published in the December 2014 online edition of the journal Cell revealed that the organoids were grown as hollow spheres within a complex gel-like substance filled with growth-inducing factors and connecting fibers. Once they had grown to a sufficient size, the organoids were transplanted into mice, where they fully recapitulated all the stages of pancreatic cancer development from early-grade neoplasms that progressed to locally invasive and metastatic carcinomas.

Due to their ability to be manipulated genetically, organoids served as an ideal platform to probe genetic cooperation. Comprehensive transcriptional and proteomic analyses of mouse pancreatic organoids revealed genes and pathways altered during disease progression. The confirmation of many of these protein changes in human tissues demonstrated that organoids were a useful model system to discover characteristics of this deadly malignancy.

“With this development, we are now able to culture both mouse and human organoids, providing a very powerful tool in our fight against pancreatic cancer,” said senior author Dr. David Tuveson, professor of pancreatic cancer medicine at Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory. “We hope to make this available to the entire pancreatic cancer research community.”

Related Links:

Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory


New
Gold Member
Pneumocystis Jirovecii Detection Kit
Pneumocystis Jirovecii Real Time RT-PCR Kit
Unit-Dose Packaging solution
HLX
New
Flu Test
ID NOW Influenza A & B 2
New
Food Allergens Assay Kit
Allerquant 14G A

Print article

Channels

Clinical Chemistry

view channel
Image: The new saliva-based test for heart failure measures two biomarkers in about 15 minutes (Photo courtesy of Trey Pittman)

POC Saliva Testing Device Predicts Heart Failure in 15 Minutes

Heart failure is a serious condition where the heart muscle is unable to pump sufficient oxygen-rich blood throughout the body. It ranks as a major cause of death globally and is particularly fatal for... Read more

Molecular Diagnostics

view channel
Image: The bowel cancer breakthrough could result in better treatment outcomes (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

New RNA Molecules Can Help Predict Bowel Cancer Return Recurrence

Colorectal cancer accounts for 10% of all cancer-related deaths worldwide and was ranked as the second most common cause of cancer death in the United States in 2022. Currently, clinicians face diagnostic... Read more

Hematology

view channel
Image: QScout CBC will give a complete blood count in 2 minutes from fingerstick or venous blood (Photo courtesy of Ad Astra Diagnostics)

Next Gen CBC and Sepsis Diagnostic System Targets Faster, Earlier, Easier Results

Every hour is critical in protecting patients from infections, yet there are currently limited tools to assist in early diagnosis before patients reach a hospital. The complete blood count (CBC) is a common... Read more

Microbiology

view channel
Image: The InfectoSynovia test has the potential to revolutionize the diagnosis of periprosthetic joint infection (Photo courtesy of 123RF)

High-Accuracy Bedside Test to Diagnose Periprosthetic Joint Infection in Five Minutes

Periprosthetic joint infection (PJI) represents a significant global issue that is worsening as the number of joint replacements increases due to aging populations. In the United States alone, the anticipated... Read more

Pathology

view channel
Image

AI-Based Method Shows Promise for Pathological Diagnosis of Hereditary Kidney Diseases

Alport syndrome is a hereditary kidney disorder characterized by kidney dysfunction, sensorineural hearing loss, and ocular abnormalities. Early in the disease, patients experience hematuria, which is... Read more
Copyright © 2000-2024 Globetech Media. All rights reserved.