An organoid assay for long-term maintenance and propagation of mouse prostate luminal epithelial progenitors and cancer cells

Abstract

Historically, prostate luminal epithelial progenitors and cancer cells have been difficult to culture, thus hampering the generation of representative models for the study of prostate homeostasis, epithelial lineage hierarchy relationship and cancer drug efficacy assessment. Here, we describe a newly developed culture methodology that can efficiently grow prostate luminal epithelial progenitors and cancer cells as organoids. Notably, the organoid assay favors prostate luminal cell growth, thus minimizing basal cell dominance upon the establishment and continuous propagation of prostate epithelial cells. Importantly, organoids cultured under this condition have demonstrated preservation of androgen responsiveness and intact androgen receptor signaling, providing a representative system to study castration resistance and androgen receptor independence.