EGF and EREG regulate early oncoprotein-mediated tissue transformation in intestinal organoids.

EREG and sub-saturating EGF (0.5–5 ng/mL) differentially regulate crypt versus villus development during early oncogenic transformation in mouse small intestinal organoids.

• Why it matters: Tumorigenesis is shaped by extracellular ligand cues, but how medium EGF-family composition affects early oncogenic transformation in organoid systems is unclear.
• What they did: Using CRISPR/Cas9 Ptprg KO organoids and KRASG12V or β-Ctn4A lines with TMP/TMP-Cl–inducible activation, they quantified crypt and villus region areas after acute oncogenic activity with or without EGF.
• The result: Acute oncogenic activity did not change growth with 50 ng/mL EGF, while EGF-free media altered crypt growth; crypt spatial distribution was independent of crypt area and required EGF or EREG.

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