Transcending toward Advanced 3D-Cell Culture Modalities: A Review about an Emerging Paradigm in Translational Oncology

Abstract

Cancer is a disorder characterized by an uncontrollable overgrowth and a fast-moving spread of cells from a localized tissue to multiple organs of the body, reaching a metastatic state. Throughout years, complexity of cancer progression and invasion, high prevalence and incidence, as well as the high rise in treatment failure cases leading to a poor patient prognosis accounted for continuous experimental investigations on animals and cellular models, mainly with 2D- and 3D-cell culture. Nowadays, these research models are considered a main asset to reflect the physiological events in many cancer types in terms of cellular characteristics and features, replication and metastatic mechanisms, metabolic pathways, biomarkers expression, and chemotherapeutic agent resistance. In practice, based on research perspective and hypothesis, scientists aim to choose the best model to approach their understanding and to prove their hypothesis. Recently, 3D-cell models are seen to be highly incorporated as a crucial tool for reflecting the true cancer cell microenvironment in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies, in addition to the intensity of anticancer drug response in pharmacogenomics trials. Hence, in this review, we shed light on the unique characteristics of 3D cells favoring its promising usage through a comparative approach with other research models, specifically 2D-cell culture. Plus, we will discuss the importance of 3D models as a direct reflector of the intrinsic cancer cell environment with the newest multiple methods and types available for 3D-cells implementation.

Plasma induced reactive oxygen species‐dependent cytotoxicity in glioblastoma 3D tumourspheres

“…These receptor and juxtacrine signaling components modify a range of intracellular signaling pathways and in turn how cancer cells respond to their environment. [ 21,22 ]…”

“…These receptor and juxtacrine signaling components modify a range of intracellular signaling pathways and in turn how cancer cells respond to their environment. [21,22] However, due to higher aggressiveness and treatment resistance in GBM, there is a need to find an alternative to existing treatments by developing innovative approaches such as cold plasma technology.…”

Transferrin-modified chitosan nanoparticles for targeted nose-to-brain delivery of proteins

“…Additionally, the expression level of U87 exceeded the one of RPMI 2650. Apart from more intricate techniques such as microfluidic 3D cell culture, air-liquid interface culture models of the respiratory tract are currently the most promising in vitro approach to mimic in vivo conditions in rather high-throughput experiments [83][84][85]. The most important characteristic of this model is that cells are cultured on a supporting membrane, so that the apical side is exposed to air while the basolateral side is in contact with nourishing medium.…”

Organoid Models for Cancer Research—From Bed to Bench Side and Back

“…Especially in the context of cancer research, a variety of 3D culture systems has been developed to meet deficiencies of 2D cell culture during recent decades [ 15 , 16 ]. In addition to different concepts of spheres or spheroids, the 3D culture system of organoids arose and have been widely spread in recent years.…”