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Updated: Oct 7, 2025
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A Human Bone Marrow 3D Model to Investigate the Dynamics and Interactions Between Resident Cells in Physiological or Tumoral Contexts
Published on: December 16, 2022
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A Perfusion Bioreactor Model of Tumor-Induced Bone Disease Using Human Cells.
Gregory B Lowen1,2, Joseph P Vanderburgh1,2, David Florian2,3
1Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee.
Current Protocols
|January 5, 2022
Summary
A new 3D in vitro model using human cells in engineered bone constructs accurately simulates tumor-induced bone disease. This advanced model helps study bone metastasis and cancer cell-driven bone destruction.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Oncology
- Skeletal Biology
Background:
- Advanced solid tumors frequently metastasize to bone, causing significant bone destruction, reduced quality of life, and increased mortality.
- Existing 2D in vitro and 3D animal models fail to fully replicate the human bone-tumor microenvironment, limiting the understanding of bone metastasis.
- There is a critical need for more accurate models to study tumor-induced bone disease (TIBD).
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and validate a novel 3D in vitro humanized model for studying tumor-induced bone disease.
- To enable the investigation of interactions between cancer cells, osteoblasts, and osteoclasts within a tissue-engineered bone construct.
- To assess the potential of metastatic cancer cells to drive osteoclastogenesis and bone resorption in vitro.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of bone-like scaffolds using tissue engineering techniques.
- Preparation of human osteoblasts, osteoclasts, and metastatic cancer cells for co-culture.
- Dynamic culturing of cells within engineered bone constructs to create a 3D in vitro humanized model of TIBD.
- Utilizing micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) to observe and quantify cell-mediated bone resorption.
Main Results:
- Successful development of a 3D in vitro humanized model that dynamically cultures key bone and tumor cells.
- Demonstration of observable and quantifiable cell-mediated bone resorption within the engineered constructs.
- The model allows for the assessment of metastatic cancer cells' ability to induce osteoclastogenesis and resorption.
Conclusions:
- The developed 3D in vitro humanized model provides a more accurate representation of the human bone-tumor microenvironment for TIBD research.
- This model facilitates in-depth investigation into the mechanisms of bone metastasis and cancer-induced bone destruction.
- The model serves as a valuable tool for preclinical research and drug development targeting bone metastasis.
