A scientific challenge in the fight against bile duct cancer

Bile duct cancer, known as cholangiocarcinoma (CCA), is a rare disease, but its incidence and associated mortality are increasing worldwide. It is a highly heterogeneous type of cancer in terms of mutations, which makes the search for treatments and analysis of its progression very complex.

With the aim of advancing our understanding and evaluating new therapeutic approaches, Leartiker is leading the BILTWIN project, which seeks to develop tumour microenvironments capable of accurately reproducing the different types of CCA tumours, using small-scale devices based on organ-on-a-chip technology, or in this case, CCA-on-a-chip.

To this end, tumour models called Tumour-Twins are being generated, which faithfully reflect and mimic the characteristics of patients' tumours, allowing for in-depth study of their biology, growth, evolution and response to treatments. These models facilitate the development of more effective and personalised therapies, thus improving treatment options for patients.

Researchers from Leartiker and the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU) optimising the design of the device-on-chip and conducting various tests with hydrogels.

A multidisciplinary collaboration

The initiative is being carried out in collaboration with the University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), through its Physiology and Medicine departments, with the Biogipuzkoa Health Research Institute, the Biobizkaia Health Research Institute and the Donostia International Physics Centre (DIPC). Thanks to the joint involvement of all participants, the project has a multidisciplinary nature that facilitates the connection between science, clinical application and technological development.

Continuity and evolution

In addition to leading the project management, Leartiker focuses on improving and adapting the CCA-on-chip device, previously developed and patented in the BILCHIP project, whose objective was to create a bile duct cancer-on-chip model to study its biology and test new therapies. This initiative has laid the foundations for continuing the research carried out at the time and further advancing the understanding and evaluation of new therapies through the BILTWIN project.

Another of the activities being carried out at the technology centre is the development and characterisation of different hydrogels as a support for cell growth in the CCA-on-chip system. These hydrogels integrate different types of extracellular matrices in order to reproduce the heterogeneity of cholangiocarcinoma tumours in clinical practice.

This new project represents a significant advance in biliary cancer research, as it will provide more accurate tools for understanding the disease and accelerate the identification of innovative treatments. The aim is to contribute to the development of more personalised medicine and offer new hope to patients and healthcare professionals.

The BILTWIN project is funded by the Basque Government and SPRI under the 2025 call for proposals of the ELKARTEK programme (file no. KK-2025/00031).