Molecular features and vulnerabilities of recurrent chordomas.

Background: Tumor recurrence is one of the major challenges in clinical management of chordoma. Despite R0-resection, approximately 50% of chordomas recur within ten years after initial surgery. The underlying molecular processes are poorly understood resulting in the lack of associated therapeutic options.

Pancreatic cancer-derived organoids - a disease modeling tool to predict drug response.

Background: Organotypic cultures derived from pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) termed pancreatic ductal cancer organoids (PDOs) recapitulate the primary cancer and can be derived from primary or metastatic biopsies. Although isolation and culture of patient-derived pancreatic organoids were established several years ago, pros and cons for individualized medicine have not been comprehensively investigated to date.

Methods: We conducted a feasibility study, systematically comparing head-to-head patient-derived xenograft tumor (PDX) and PDX-derived organoids by rigorous immunohistochemical and molecular characterization.

An IKK/NF-κB Activation/p53 Deletion Sequence Drives Liver Carcinogenesis and Tumor Differentiation.

Background: Most liver tumors arise on the basis of chronic liver diseases that trigger inflammatory responses. Besides inflammation, subsequent defects in the p53-signaling pathway frequently occurs in liver cancer. In this study, we analyzed the consequences of inflammation and p53 loss in liver carcinogenesis.

Remodelling and Improvements in Organoid Technology to Study Liver Carcinogenesis in a Dish.

Primary liver cancer (PLC) is the sixth most common tumour disease and one of the leading causes of cancer-related death worldwide. The two most common types of PLC are hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA). Diverse subgroups are described and a manifold number of gene mutations are known.

YAP Activation Drives Liver Regeneration after Cholestatic Damage Induced by Deletion.

Liver cholestasis is a chronic liver disease and a major health problem worldwide. Cholestasis is characterised by a decrease in bile flow due to impaired secretion by hepatocytes or by obstruction of bile flow through intra- or extrahepatic bile ducts. Thereby cholestasis can induce ductal proliferation, hepatocyte injury and liver fibrosis.