Tumor Organoids (cancer Drug Discovery And Development)
by Aleksander Skardal /
2017 / English / PDF
13.1 MB Download
Cancer cell biology research in general, and anti-cancer drug
development specifically, still relies on standard cell culture
techniques that place the cells in an unnatural environment. As a
consequence, growing tumor cells in plastic dishes places a
selective pressure that substantially alters their original
molecular and phenotypic properties.The emerging field of
regenerative medicine has developed bioengineered tissue
platforms that can better mimic the structure and cellular
heterogeneity of in vivo tissue, and are suitable for tumor
bioengineering research. Microengineering technologies have
resulted in advanced methods for creating and culturing 3-D human
tissue. By encapsulating the respective cell type or combining
several cell types to form tissues, these model organs can be
viable for longer periods of time and are cultured to develop
functional properties similar to native tissues. This approach
recapitulates the dynamic role of cell–cell, cell–ECM, and
mechanical interactions inside the tumor. Further incorporation
of cells representative of the tumor stroma, such as endothelial
cells (EC) and tumor fibroblasts, can mimic the in vivo tumor
microenvironment. Collectively, bioengineered tumors create an
important resource for the in vitro study of tumor growth in 3D
including tumor biomechanics and the effects of anti-cancer drugs
on 3D tumor tissue. These technologies have the potential to
overcome current limitations to genetic and histological tumor
classification and development of personalized therapies.
Cancer cell biology research in general, and anti-cancer drug
development specifically, still relies on standard cell culture
techniques that place the cells in an unnatural environment. As a
consequence, growing tumor cells in plastic dishes places a
selective pressure that substantially alters their original
molecular and phenotypic properties.The emerging field of
regenerative medicine has developed bioengineered tissue
platforms that can better mimic the structure and cellular
heterogeneity of in vivo tissue, and are suitable for tumor
bioengineering research. Microengineering technologies have
resulted in advanced methods for creating and culturing 3-D human
tissue. By encapsulating the respective cell type or combining
several cell types to form tissues, these model organs can be
viable for longer periods of time and are cultured to develop
functional properties similar to native tissues. This approach
recapitulates the dynamic role of cell–cell, cell–ECM, and
mechanical interactions inside the tumor. Further incorporation
of cells representative of the tumor stroma, such as endothelial
cells (EC) and tumor fibroblasts, can mimic the in vivo tumor
microenvironment. Collectively, bioengineered tumors create an
important resource for the in vitro study of tumor growth in 3D
including tumor biomechanics and the effects of anti-cancer drugs
on 3D tumor tissue. These technologies have the potential to
overcome current limitations to genetic and histological tumor
classification and development of personalized therapies.