Basement membrane destruction by pancreatic stellate cells leads to local invasion in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma

Stroma invasion is an important step in pancreatic cancer progression. However, how pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) with ductal structure invades the surrounding stroma has not been clear. Here, we elucidated the mechanism of stromal invasion of PDAC, using organoids. From resected PDAC specimens, we established human PDAC organoids, which developed ductal and basement membrane (BM) structures. When the organoids were co-cultured with pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) in a collagen matrix, organoids lost their BM and ductal structures, and invaded collagen matrix more frequently than did mono-cultured organoids.

Source: Cancer Letters - March 26, 2018 Category: Cancer & Oncology Authors: Kazuhiro Koikawa, Kenoki Ohuchida, Yohei Ando, Shin Kibe, Hiromichi Nakayama, Shin Takesue, Sho Endo, Toshiya Abe, Takashi Okumura, Chika Iwamoto, Taiki Moriyama, Kohei Nakata, Yoshihiro Miyasaka, Takao Ohtsuka, Eishi Nagai, Kazuhiro Mizumoto, Makoto Hash Tags: Original Articles Source Type: research