Multi-stromal organoid co-culture modelling reveals epithelial-fibroblast heterogeneity in pancreatic cancer and pancreatitis.

Distinct epithelial and fibroblast features are identified in pancreatitis and pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) using multi-stromal organoid co-cultures.

• Why it matters: Understanding fibroblast heterogeneity and epithelial-stromal interactions is crucial because these influence disease progression and treatment response in pancreatic diseases, yet differences between inflammation and cancer remain unclear.
• What they did: The study compared fibroblast diversity and epithelial-stromal interactions in human samples, mouse models, and mouse pancreatitis-derived organoids, developing co-cultures with pancreatic stellate cells, fibroblasts, and mesothelial cells.
• The result: Findings reveal disease-specific features of epithelial and fibroblast cells, and the models enable identification of markers and vulnerabilities unique to pancreatitis and PDAC.