Described herein are methods for providing an in vitro intestinal model system, e.g., using primary cells instead of cell lines and/or cancerous cells.

The invention relates to improved culture methods for expanding epithelial stem cells and obtaining organoids, to culture media involved in said methods, and to uses of said organoids.

The present disclosure relates to a method for two-dimensionally culturing an intestinal stem cell population in a chemically defined medium and a use thereof, and also relates to a method for differentiating the intestinal stem cell population into 2.5-dimensional intestinal epithelial cells and a use thereof.

Disclosed are methods for making a vascularized hollow organ derived from human intestinal organoid (HIOs). The HIOs may be obtained from human embryonic stem cells (ESC's) and/or induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), such that the HIO forms mature intestinal tissue. Also disclosed are methods for making a human intestinal tissue containing a functional enteric nervous system (ENS).

A gastroesophageal junction (GEJ) organoid, methods of generating the same, and use of the GEJ organoid in an in vitro method of evaluating a potential anti-cancer agent are disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for treating a cancer comprising providing to a subject a Platelet Activating Factor Receptor (PTAFR) antagonist, including the PTAFR antagonist comprises WEB2086. The cancer treated can be gastroesophageal junction adenocarcinoma.

The present application relates to a culture medium for the culture of intestinal organoids characterized in that it comprises neuregulin 1 (NRG1) and all-trans retinoic acid (atRA). It also relates to a method using this medium to culture intestinal organoids.

The present invention provides a cell culture medium for culturing primary gastrointestinal stromal tumor cells, comprising gastrin, N2, insulin, a receptor tyrosine kinase ligand, and a Rock kinase inhibitor. The present invention further provides a method for culturing gastrointestinal stromal tumor cells by using the cell culture medium, and an application and a method of an expanded cell population, which is obtained by using the method, in efficacy evaluation or screening.

Compositions and methods are described herein for transdifferentiation of multipotent stromal cells into cells that can express insulin.

The invention relates to differentiation methods for progenitor cells, e.g. mammalian epithelial stem cells, differentiation media for use in said methods, organoids and cells obtainable by said methods and uses, including therapeutic uses, thereof.

The invention relates to differentiation methods for progenitor cells, e.g. mammalian epithelial stem cells, differentiation media for use in said methods, organoids and cells obtainable by said methods and uses, including therapeutic uses, thereof.