Abstract: The invention relates to a liver organoid, uses thereof and method for obtaining them.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: Described are the use of stem cell markers for the isolation of stem cells and the use of the obtained stem cells in, for example, research or treatment, such as for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of damaged or diseased tissue. In one aspect, provided is a method for obtaining or isolating stem cells that comprises preparing a cell suspension from a tissue or organ sample, contacting the cell suspension with an Lgr 6 or 5 binding compound, identifying the cells bound to the binding compound, and isolating the stem cells from the binding compound. Further described are methods and compositions for cancer treatment, for example, by eradicating cancer stem cells.

Abstract: The present invention relates to compounds that act as agonists of the Wnt signalling pathway, compositions comprising these compounds and the uses of these compounds, both therapeutic and in research. The invention also provides methods of identifying compounds that act as agonists of the Wnt signalling pathway.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing epithelial stem cells, isolated tissue fragments comprising the epithelial stem cells, or adenoma cells, and culturing the cells or fragments in the presence of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist when culturing epithelial stem cells and isolated tissue fragments. The invention further relates to a cell culture medium comprising a BMP inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist, to the use of the culture medium, and to crypt-villus organoids, gastric organoids and pancreatic organoids that are formed in the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to a liver organoid, uses thereof and method for obtaining them.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for culturing epithelial stem cells, isolated tissue fragments comprising the epithelial stem cells, or adenoma cells, and culturing the cells or fragments in the presence of a Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP) inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist when culturing epithelial stem cells and isolated tissue fragments. The invention further relates to a cell culture medium comprising a BMP inhibitor, a mitogenic growth factor, and a Wnt agonist, to the use of the culture medium, and to crypt-villus organoids, gastric organoids and pancreatic organoids that are formed in the culture medium.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biochemistry and medicine. More specifically, the invention relates to methods and pharmaceuticals for the treatment of intestinal neoplasia. The invention discloses the surprising finding that inhibitors of Notch pathway activation (for example, ?-secretase inhibitors) are extremely useful in the treatment of intestinal adenoma and/or adenocarcinoma.

Abstract: The invention relates to the field of biochemistry and medicine. More specifically, the invention relates to the treatment of epithelial changes in the esophagus. Even more specific, the invention relates to the treatment of Barrett's esophagus. The invention provides a method for at least in part decreasing Barrett's esophagus present in an animal comprising at least in part inhibiting Notch pathway activation in said animal. Preferably, said inhibition of Notch pathway activation is accomplished via a g-secretase inhibitor.

Abstract: The invention relates to the use of the expression products of the TCF target genes as markers for the isolation of intestinal stem cells in a method for the isolation of intestinal stem cells by providing antibodies, antibody derivatives or ligand fusion proteins against one or more of the target gene products of the genes; providing single cell suspensions of intestinal tissue; contacting the antibodies, antibody derivatives or ligand fusion proteins and the single cell suspensions; identifying the cells binding to the antibodies, antibody derivatives or ligand fusion proteins; and optionally isolating the stem cells from the antibodies, antibody derivatives or ligand fusion proteins.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the use of inhibitors of the expressed proteins of TCF target genes whose expression is regulated by TCF/&bgr;-catenin complexes for the preparation of a therapeutical composition for the treatment of cancers in which TCF/&bgr;-catenin signaling is deregulated. Such inhibitors can be antibodies, small molecules, antisense RNA and dsRNA for use in RNAi. The invention also relates to these inhibitors per se.