Application and mechanism of anticancer peptides in organoid models of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma

Background

The clinical manifestations of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) are non-specific, and only a small number of patients are eligible for surgical resection at the time of diagnosis, limiting treatment options. Anticancer peptides (ACPs) exhibit strong inhibitory activity against tumour cell lines, exhibit minimal side effects, are easily modified and optimised, and have low production costs. These attributes make ACPs a prospect for clinical applications. Simultaneously, the development of patient-derived three-dimensional organoids as a novel disease model has enabled the replication of the structure and heterogeneity of solid tumours. These organoids provide valuable tools for understanding disease mechanisms, conducting drug sensitivity tests, and developing targeted therapies.

However, the effect of ACPs at the organoid level in ICC remains unknown. Therefore, this study aims to explore the potential of ACPs in treating ICC using patient-derived organoids as a model system to evaluate their efficacy and optimize therapeutic strategies.

Methods

We designed and synthesised a novel ACP sequence and applied it to a patient-derived organoids (PDOs) model. Organoids were evaluated using histochemistry analysis and whole-exome sequencing. ACPs were compared with representative chemotherapeutic drugs, including sorafenib and gemcitabine, to assess treatment differences. Additionally, scanning electron microscopy and flow cytometry were performed for further mechanistic analyses.

Results

Organoid models exhibited histological characteristics similar to those of maternal tumours, especially showing strong positivity for EpCAM and KRT19 expression. Furthermore, whole-exome sequencing of the primary tumour and derived organoids revealed that PDOs closely recapitulated the genomic similarities of the primary tumour across multiple levels. Drug response analyses revealed that ACPs exhibited highly efficient anti-tumour effects, with specific differences observed between patients. ACPs affected the growth of tumour cells and exerted anticancer effects through direct membrane disruption and indirect induction of apoptosis.

Conclusion

In this study, organoids derived from patients with ICC were established. This in vitro model provides valuable tools for evaluating the therapeutic response of ACPs and offers novel insight for the study of ICC.