Biochemistry, Biochemical Analysis & Matrix Pathobiology Research Group, Laboratory of Biochemistry, Department of Chemistry, University of Patras, Greece.
Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas (FORTH)/Institute of Chemical Engineering Sciences (ICE-HT), Patras, Greece.
FEBS J. 2023 Nov;290(22):5238-5247. doi: 10.1111/febs.16778. Epub 2023 Mar 27.
Cancer initiation and progression heavily rely on microenvironmental cues derived from various components of the niche including the extracellular matrix (ECM). ECM is a complex macromolecular network that governs cell functionality. Although the two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems provide useful information at the molecular level and preclinical testing, they could not accurately represent the in vivo matrix microenvironmental architecture. Hence, it is no surprise that researchers in the last decade have focussed their efforts on establishing novel advanced in vitro culture models that mimic tumour and tissue-specific niches and interactions. These numerous three-dimensional (3D) culture systems that are now widely available, as well as those still under development, grant researchers with new, improved tools to study cancer progression and to explore innovative therapeutic options. Herein, we report on the emerging methods and cutting-edge technologies in 3D cell culture platforms and discuss their potential use in unveiling tumour microenvironmental cues, drug screening and personalized treatment.
癌症的发生和发展在很大程度上依赖于微环境线索，这些线索来源于基质的各种成分，包括细胞外基质（ECM）。细胞外基质是一个复杂的大分子网络，它控制着细胞的功能。尽管二维（2D）细胞培养系统在分子水平和临床前测试方面提供了有用的信息，但它们不能准确地代表体内基质微环境结构。因此，研究人员在过去十年中集中精力建立新的先进的体外培养模型，以模拟肿瘤和组织特异性龛位和相互作用，这并不奇怪。目前有许多三维（3D）培养系统已经广泛应用，还有一些仍在开发中，为研究癌症进展和探索创新治疗方案提供了新的、改进的工具。本文综述了 3D 细胞培养平台中新兴的方法和尖端技术，并讨论了它们在揭示肿瘤微环境线索、药物筛选和个性化治疗方面的潜在应用。
