Cancer of the pancreas is a devastating disease that is rarely caught in time. The symptoms often appear too late for treatment to be effective, which is why finding early detection methods is crucial. However, identifying changes in the pancreas that correlate with cancer has been difficult.
Researchers led by Alexander Kleger, Director of the Institute for Molecular Oncology and Stem Cell Biology at the University Hospital Ulm, hope to address this issue with the help of human pancreatic organoids. Organoids are miniature versions of organs created in the lab that mimic the biological function of their natural counterparts.
The researchers aim to use pancreas organoids to understand the embryonic development of the pancreas and identify harmful mutations that affect pancreas cells. From this information, they hope to develop early detection methods and new therapies.
To achieve this, the team needs three types of organoids, one for each of the three tissue building blocks that make up the pancreas. The pancreas is a multi-talented organ that forms hormones for blood sugar regulation, produces digestive enzymes, and directs those juices to the right place.
Creating these organoids will provide more knowledge on the functioning of the pancreas and enable researchers to identify potential biomarkers for early detection and therapy development. With this new technology, the team hopes to prevent more people from succumbing to this deadly disease.
