Three-Dimensional In Vitro Tumor Spheroid Models for Evaluation of Anticancer Therapy: Recent Updates

Abstract

Advanced tissue engineering processes and regenerative medicine provide modern strategies for fabricating 3D spheroids. Several different 3D cancer models are being developed to study a variety of cancers. Three-dimensional spheroids can correctly replicate some features of solid tumors (such as the secretion of soluble mediators, drug resistance mechanisms, gene expression patterns and physiological responses) better than 2D cell cultures or animal models. Tumor spheroids are also helpful for precisely reproducing the three-dimensional organization and microenvironmental factors of tumors. Because of these unique properties, the potential of 3D cell aggregates has been emphasized, and they have been utilized in in vitro models for the detection of novel anticancer drugs. This review discusses applications of 3D spheroid models in nuclear medicine for diagnosis and therapy, immunotherapy, and stem cell and photodynamic therapy and also discusses the establishment of the anticancer activity of nanocarriers.

Pentoxifylline and Norcantharidin Modify p62 Expression in 2D and 3D Cultures of B16F1 Cells

“…Spheroids provide a niche with several layers of cells that allow a better evaluation of different markers under different treatment models. This reduces the use of animals for the screening of new therapies [24]. Here, we constructed 3D spheroids of mouse B16F1 melanoma cells using the hanging drop method to test the effect of PTX and NCTD.…”

Fabrication of a Three-Dimensional Spheroid Culture System for Oral Squamous Cell Carcinomas Using a Microfabricated Device

“…CSC activation is induced by intercellular interactions and changes in the tumor microenvironment [10]. Because spheroids are 3D culture systems that do not use scaffolds or other external biomaterials [38,39], studies on the induction of stemness should focus on the microenvironment composed by the extracellular matrix, cytokines, chemokines and growth factors produced by constituent cells, and the signal responses resulting from intercellular interactions [40,41].…”

Application of 3D, 4D, 5D, and 6D bioprinting in cancer research: what does the future look like?

“…It is now widely known that cancer cells produced in vitro as 3D spheroids more closely resemble cancer cells cultured as 2D monolayers in terms of drug responsiveness and resistance. 123 The TME and the spheroids' spatial arrangement are likely to blame for this divergence. Changes in gene expression may result from increased cell–cell and cell–matrix adhesions.…”