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Human Pancreatic Organoids for Cancer Research Applications

What is Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents 85% of all cases of pancreatic cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the seventh most common cancer with an incidence rate of approximately 3.5% and is the fourth most common cause of cancer-related death for both sexes and all ages. Smoking, diabetes mellitus, obesity, age, and genetic predisposition are the main risk factors identified so far to be implicated in the development of PDAC.

The KRAS mutations G12D and G12V are found in more than 90% of PDAC cases. The success of drugs targeting KRASG12C suggests the potential for drugs specifically targeting these alternative PDAC-associated KRAS mutations.

Historically, pancreatic cancer cell lines or animal models have been used to study PDAC but are limited by lack of biological relevance or high costs. Patient derived organoids (PDOs) are novel in vitro 3D cell models that have tissue-like functionality and are an alternative to traditional 2D cell lines and PDX animal models.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Organoid Biobank

The 3dGRO^® pancreatic organoid biobank is a collection of tissue-derived human pancreatic cancer organoids (PDAC organoids) for disease modeling research. The pancreatic organoid biobank contains highly characterized organoid lines from PDAC diseased patients, representing primary tumors containing wild-type and KRAS driver mutations.

For complete pancreatic organoid culture protocols and media recipes visit the 3dGRO Human Pancreatic Organoid User Guide.

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Organoid Data

Four microscopy images of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma organoids over a 5 day period. The first image shows the organoids at Day 1 at 2X, with small black dots covering the entirety of the image. The second image shows the organoids at Day 5 of growth at 2X magnification, with fewer, larger black circles scattered across the image. The third image shows the organoids at Day 1 at 10X magnification, with small clear circles on a grey image background. The fourth image shows the organoids at Day 5 at 10X magnification, with larger and fewer clear circles on a grey image background.

Figure 1.Time course of PDAC cancer organoid growth over a 5-day period shows positive cell proliferation after thaw (SCC700, PPTO.02) at 2X (top images) or 10X (bottom images) magnification.

Microscopy images of PDAC organoids before cryopreservation. The first image shows organoids at Day 6 at 2X magnification, with small black circles covering the entirety of the image. The second image shows organoids at Day 6 at 10X magnification, with larger clear circles on a grey background.

Figure 2.Human PDAC cancer organoid (SCC706, PPTO.46) morphology and confluency prior to cryopreservation on day 6 (first image at 2X magnification, second image at 10X magnification).

Microscopy images of PDAC organoids. The first image is a contrast microscopy image of the organoid, with one large clear organoid in the center of a grey background. The second image is an immunocytochemical stain of the organoid. CK19 surrounds the cells in the organoid and is shown in green, actin lines the inner ring of the cells of the organoid and is shown in red, and DAPI forms small circles in the middle of the cells and is shown in blue. The third image is an immunocytochemical stain of the organoid; EpCAM lines each cell in the organoid and is shown in green, actin lines the inner ring of the cells of the organoid and is shown in red, and DAPI forms small circles in the middle of the cells and is shown in blue.

Figure 3.Immunocytochemical characterization of human pancreatic organoids (SCC700, PPTO.02). Human PDAC cancer organoids are positive for Cytokeratin 19 (CK19, green), epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM, green) and Actin (red). Cells counterstained with DAPI (blue).

Microscopy images of PDAC organoids cultured in Millicell® Microwell plates and stained with EpCAM in green, which surrounds each organoid, action in red, which is in the center of each organoid, and DAPI in blue, which is in the center of each organoid. In the first image, multiple small blue and green circles are in a hexagon grid in the center of a black background. In the second image, multiple small blue and green circles are in a hexagon grid and within slightly larger grey circles, indicating the microwell grid. In the third image, slightly larger green and red circles are spaced evenly on a black background.

Figure 4.Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Organoids (SCC704) cultured using Millicell^® Microwell Plate 400µm (MC96U4005). Cells stained with EpCAM (green), Actin (red) and DAPI (blue).

Human Pancreatic Organoids for Cancer Research Applications

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What is Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma?

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Organoid Biobank

Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma Organoid Data