Pancreatic cancer organotypics: High throughput, preclinical models for pharmacological agent evaluation

Figure 4 Raised organotypic model of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma with cancer cells and pancreatic stellate cell interaction. A: Extracellular matrix gels containing were polymerised in 24-well plates before cancer stellate cells were seeded on top and allowed to interact and attach. These gels are then raised onto metal grids and fed from below creating a chemotactic gradient. Organotypic models were cultured for up to 14 d; B: Illustration of cancer cells and stellate cells in a raised model showing increased proliferation and invasion of both stellate and cancer cells into the gel; C: HE section of a raised gel with cancer cells and pancreatic stellate cells seeded on top; D: Immunofluorescence in the same gel showing strong cytokeratin expression in the cancer cells and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in the stellate cells which form a layer below the cancer cells.