Cancer remains a significant global health challenge, marked by its complexity and diverse forms. Researchers seek improved methods to study cancer progression and develop effective treatments. Traditional research models have faced limitations in fully replicating the intricate nature of human tumors. New approaches are emerging to better understand and combat cancer, including innovative 3D cellular models.
Understanding Tumoroids
A tumoroid is a three-dimensional (3D) cell culture model that closely mimics the structure and function of a real tumor found in the human body. Unlike older two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures, which grow cells in a flat layer, tumoroids are able to replicate the complex cellular environment and interactions present within a living tumor.
These 3D structures are derived from primary tumor cells obtained from cancer patients. They preserve the natural cell morphology, gene expression patterns, and cell-to-cell interactions often altered in 2D cultures, maintaining the histological, genetic, and molecular characteristics of the original tumor and making them a more representative model for cancer research. They can also replicate the tumor microenvironment, which includes the surrounding non-cancerous cells, signaling molecules, and the extracellular matrix.
Building a Tumoroid
Creating a tumoroid involves culturing patient-derived cancer cells under specific conditions that encourage three-dimensional growth. Tumor tissue, often obtained through surgical resection or biopsies, is first processed. The tissue is digested into small cell clusters, which are then placed within a 3D extracellular matrix hydrogel, such as Matrigel or basement membrane extract.
These hydrogels provide a structural framework, allowing the cells to organize and function in a manner similar to how they would in a living organism. Over time, these cells grow and organize into structures that closely resemble the original tumor. This process encourages the cells to maintain their natural cell-to-cell communication and spatial organization.
Why Tumoroids are Important for Cancer Research
Tumoroids provide an accurate and relevant platform for various studies in cancer research. They are valuable tools for screening potential therapeutic compounds and identifying new drug targets, an important step in drug discovery. Testing new cancer drugs on tumoroids provides a more accurate prediction of how a drug might work in a patient compared to traditional methods.
These models are important for personalized medicine, allowing for tailored treatments for individual patients. Because tumors exhibit unique genetic mutations that influence drug response, patient-derived tumoroids can be used to screen multiple drugs to determine the most effective treatment for a specific patient’s cancer. For example, lung cancer tumoroids have predicted patient-specific drug responses, useful given the variability in this cancer type.
Tumoroids further help scientists gain a deeper understanding of tumor biology, including how tumors grow, spread, and develop resistance to treatments. They allow researchers to investigate tumor-stroma interactions, revealing how different cell types within the tumor microenvironment influence cancer progression. Studies using vascularized breast cancer tumoroids, for instance, have shown how endothelial cells can promote tumor growth and invasion. The use of tumoroids also has the potential to reduce the reliance on animal models in cancer research, offering a more ethical and often more predictive alternative.
The Road Ahead for Tumoroids
Tumoroid technology is a rapidly advancing field with potential to transform cancer research and treatment. While effective, researchers are continuously working to improve their complexity. This includes efforts to better mimic aspects of the tumor microenvironment, such as the immune system and blood vessels, which play important roles in cancer progression and drug response.
Ongoing research aims to integrate immune cells and vascular structures into tumoroid models to create even more comprehensive systems for studying disease mechanisms and drug efficacy. Tumoroids are also increasingly being integrated into clinical trials, where they can serve as predictive models for patient response to therapies. This evolving technology is advancing cancer treatment and research, bringing closer the possibility of more effective and personalized therapies for patients.