Researchers in China and the U.S. have successfully created a 3D model of a cancerous tumor. The model, which consists of a scaffold of fibrous proteins coated in cervical cancer cells, has provided a realistic 3D representation of the environment surrounding a tumor so that different types of drugs can be tested in a realistic way, the researchers said. Cell proliferation and chemoresistance were measured in the printed 3D cervical tumor models and compared with conventional 2D planar culture models.
The results revealed that 90 percent of the cancer cells remained viable after the printing process. The results also showed that the 3D model had more similar characteristics to a tumor compared to 2D models. And in the 3D model, the cancer cells showed a higher proliferation rate, higher protein expression and higher resistance to anticancer drugs. Cells in 3D printed models also showed higher chemoresistance than those in the 2D culture. These new biological characteristics from the printed 3D tumor models in vitro as well as the novel 3D cell printing technology may help the evolution of 3D cancer study.
Source: 3D Printing Insider