Biofabrication of advanced in vitro and ex vivo cancer models for disease modeling and drug screening

Abstract

Bioengineered in vitro models have advanced from 2D cultures and simple 3D cell aggregates to more complex organoids and organ-on-a-chip platforms. This shift has been substantial in cancer research; while simple systems remain in use, multi-tissue type tumor and tissue chips and patient-derived tumor organoids have grown rapidly. These more advanced models offer new tools to cancer researchers based on human tumor physiology and the potential for interactions with nontumor tissue physiology while avoiding critical differences between human and animal biology. In this focused review, the authors discuss the importance of organoid and organ-on-a-chip platforms, with a particular focus on modeling cancer, to highlight oncology-focused in vitro model platform technologies that improve upon the simple 2D cultures and 3D spheroid models of the past.

Lay Abstract

Cancer research has recently benefited from advancements in bioengineered 3D models, such as tumor organoids and tumor-on-a-chip systems. These kinds of models can be human-based, thus allowing for human physiology-based cancer studies to be performed, as opposed to relying on animal models. In this focused review, the authors discuss the importance of organoid and organ-on-a-chip platforms, with a particular focus on modeling cancer.