Evaluation of Three-Dimensional in Vitro Models to Study Tumor Angiogenesis

The tumor microenvironment is a key factor in the progression and metastasis of cancer, the complexity of which is not reproducible using two-dimensional (2D) culture models. While three-dimensional (3D) models have become more well-known and utilized over the past decade, only recently have these models been exploited in the advancement of methods to directly study the mechanisms of tumor development, such as angiogenesis. Here, we review the current "state-of-the-art" in 3D culture models developed for the study of tumor angiogenesis. We assess the potential for 3D tissue engineered models to fill the gap between 2D models and clinical application. We also discuss recent advances in combining materials science, engineering, and cell biology to highlight the most promising scaffolds for tumor engineering.