Scientists use organoid model to identify potential new pancreatic cancer treatment

The researchers discovered that the cancer-driving mutation in the organoids forces the abnormally high production of cholesterol, which the drug largely reverses.

“Our findings identify hyperactive cholesterol synthesis as a vulnerability that may be targetable in most pancreatic cancers,” said study co-senior author Dr. Todd Evans, vice chair for research in surgery, the Peter I. Pressman MD Professor in Surgery, and a member of the Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration at Weill Cornell Medicine.

“This study also highlights the value of using genetically well-defined organoids to model cancer and discover new treatment strategies,” said co-senior author Dr. Shuibing Chen, director of the Center for Genomic Health, the Kilts Family Professor Surgery and a member of the Hartman Institute for Therapeutic Organ Regeneration at Weill Cornell Medicine.

Reference: Scientists use organoid model to identify potential new pancreatic cancer treatment; JOURNAL Cell Stem Cell