Creation of bladder assembloids by reconstituting tissue stem cell/tumour cell-derived organoids with multiple stromal components

Abstract Current organoid models are limited by their inability to mimic mature organ architecture and associated tissue microenvironments1,2. Here, we create multi-layered normal bladder assembloids and tumour assembloids by reconstituting tissue stem cell/tumour cell-derived organoids with multiple stromal components to represent an organized tissue architecture and functionality of adult bladder, and to mimic in vivo pathophysiological features of patient-derived urothelial carcinoma, respectively. Our assembloid model will facilitate development of an innovative model system for studying tissue regeneration and tumourigenesis at molecular and cellular levels, and also provide a unique experimental tool for establishing novel personalized therapeutic options, such as new drug screening strategies that are customized for different stages and types of cancer in individual patients.