A microenvironment-inspired synthetic 3D model for pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma organoids

Experimental in vitro models that accurately capture pathophysiological characteristics of human tumours are essential for basic and translational cancer biology. Here, we describe a fully synthetic hydrogel extracellular matrix, specifically designed to elicit key phenotypic traits of the pancreatic environment in culture. To enable the growth of normal and cancerous pancreatic organoids from murine genetically engineered models and human patients, essential adhesive cues were empirically defined and incorporated into the hydrogel scaffold, revealing a functional role of laminin – integrin a3/a6 signalling in adhesion and survival of pancreatic organoids. Altered tissue stiffness — a hallmark of pancreatic cancer — was recapitulated in culture by adjusting the hydrogel properties to engage mechano-signalling and alter organoid growth. Pancreatic stromal cells were readily incorporated and replicated phenotypic traits characteristic of the tumour environment in vivo. This model therefore recapitulates a pathologically remodelled tumour microenvironment for studies of normal and pancreatic cancer cells in vitro.