The effect of colorectal cancer (CRC) organoid-derived extracellular vesicles on the expression profile of fibroblasts

Extracellular vesicles (EV) are membrane-surrounded vesicles secreted by cells that carry biologically important molecules to the target cells. EVs form a heterogenous group and they represent a novel way of intercellular communication. To study the importance of colorectal cancer (CRC)-derived EVs on stromal fibroblasts, we applied CRC patient-derived 3D organoid cultures and commercially available human colon fibroblasts. We studied the gene expression changes in fibroblasts in the presence and absence pf CRC-derived EVs. CRC patient-derived organoids were 3D cultured in Matrigel in chemically defined medium and EVs were isolated after 2 days by differential centrifugation and untracentrifugation. The effect of EV-enriched pellet, suspended in the EV-free supernatant was compared to the EV-free supernatant in human colon fibroblasts