Selected Publications

Heterogeneity-driven phenotypic plasticity and treatment response in branched-organoid models of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (2025)
Papargyriou, A.,  Shastri, A.R., Laura, S., Ravichandra, A., Bausch, A.R., …, Reichert, M.
Nature Biomedical Engineering 9, 836–864
Cover Story – Branched pancreatic cancer organoids reveal heterogeneity-driven tumor state transitions and treatment response.
DOI

Spatiotemporal dynamics of self-organized branching in pancreas-derived organoids (2022)
Randriamanantsoa, S., Papargyriou, A., …, Reichert, M.*, and Bausch, A. R.*
Nature Communications 13, 5219
⭐ Defined biophysical rules of self-organized branching in pancreatic organoids; relevant for state transition modelling. *Equally contributing
DOI

Identification of treatment-induced vulnerabilities in pancreatic cancer patients using functional model systems (2022)
Peschke, K., …, Reichert, M.
EMBO Molecular Medicine 14, e14876
⭐ Functional model systems reveal treatment-triggered vulnerabilities in PDAC, providing rationale for exploiting tumor plasticity for personalized therapy frameworks.
DOI

Selective multi-kinase inhibition sensitizes mesenchymal pancreatic cancer to immune checkpoint blockade by remodeling the tumor microenvironment (2022)
Falcomata, C., …, Reichert, M., …, Saur, D.
Nature Cancer 3, 318–336
⭐ Identified multi-kinase inhibitor vulnerability in mesenchymal PDAC subtypes enabling immune checkpoint response. Demonstrates lineage-informed therapeutic approach.
DOI

Mesenchymal Plasticity Regulated by Prrx1 Drives Aggressive Pancreatic Cancer Biology (2021)
Feldmann, K., Papargyriou, A., Raphela, A.R., …, and Reichert, M.
Gastroenterology 160, 346–361.e24
⭐ Prrx1-driven plasticity of cancer-associated fibroblasts shapes aggressive PDAC phenotypes. Conceptual evidence for cell-state–driven plasticity in the tumour microenvironment.
DOI

Regulation of Epithelial Plasticity Determines Metastatic Organotropism in Pancreatic Cancer (2018)
Reichert, M.*, …, Rustgi, A.K.*
Developmental Cell 45, 696–711.e698
Cover Story – Demonstrated p120ctn-dependent state-plasticity as key driver of metastatic organotropism. *Co-senior authors.
DOI

The Prrx1 homeodomain transcription factor plays a central role in pancreatic regeneration and carcinogenesis (2013)
Reichert, M., …, Rustgi, A.K.
Genes & Development 27, 288–300
Cover Story – Identified Prrx1 as master regulator of pancreatic plasticity in development, regeneration and carcinogenesis.
DOI

Isolation, culture and genetic manipulation of mouse pancreatic ductal cells (2013)
Reichert, M., …, and Rustgi, A. K.
Nature Protocols 8, 1354–1365
⭐ Established an organotypic 3D pancreatic ductal culture system enabling disease modelling, and early organoid-analog technology.
DOI

Patents & Technologies

Analysis of tissue samples using quantitative phase-contrast microscopy (2022)
Patent No. EP20206259.2
⭐ Development of a novel and patented technology for label-free single-cell phenotyping to quantify real-time tumor heterogeneity with potential of clinical implementation.
(also see DOI).

Combination Treatment of Pancreatic Cancer (2017)
Patent No. WO2019073031A1
⭐ Combined inhibition of PI3K informs p110a and ρ110γ as efficient strategy for pancreatic cancer patients (honored with the Forcheurs Jean-Marie Lehn Award).