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Updated: Aug 30, 2025
A 3D Organotypic Melanoma Spheroid Skin Model
Published on: May 18, 2018
Blood-Lymphatic Integrated System with Heterogeneous Melanoma Spheroids via In-Bath Three-Dimensional Bioprinting for
Won-Woo Cho1, Minjun Ahn1, Byoung Soo Kim2
1Department of Mechanical Engineering, Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH), Pohang, Kyungbuk, 37673, Republic of Korea.
Abstract:
Although metastatic melanoma can be managed with chemotherapy, its heterogeneity and resistance to therapy remain poorly understood. In addition to the spread of melanoma in the bloodstream, melanoma-stroma interaction and the lymphatic system play active roles in said heterogeneity and resistance, leading to its progression and metastasis. Reproducing the complexities of the melanoma microenvironment in vitro will help understanding its progression and enhance the translatability of potential cancer therapeutics. A blood-lymphatic integrated system with heterogeneous melanoma spheroids (BLISH) using the in-bath bioprinting process is developed. The process uniformly prints size-controllable metastatic melanoma spheroids along with biomimetic blood and lymphatic vessels (LVs). The system reproduces hallmark events of metastatic melanoma, such as tumor stroma interaction, melanoma invasion, and intravasation. The application of the system to investigate the anticancer effect of combinational targeted therapy suggests that it can be used to study the pathophysiology of melanoma and improve the accuracy of drug response monitoring in skin cancer.
Insights
A novel bioprinted blood-lymphatic system models metastatic melanoma, revealing insights into tumor-stroma interactions and improving drug response accuracy for skin cancer therapies.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cancer Research
- Oncology
Background:
- Metastatic melanoma exhibits heterogeneity and therapy resistance, poorly understood due to complex microenvironments.
- Melanoma progression involves bloodstream, melanoma-stroma interactions, and the lymphatic system, complicating treatment.
- In vitro models are needed to replicate the melanoma microenvironment for better therapeutic development.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop an in vitro model that replicates the complex melanoma microenvironment.
- To investigate melanoma progression and metastasis using a biomimetic system.
- To enhance the translatability of cancer therapeutics and drug response monitoring.
Main Methods:
- Developed a blood-lymphatic integrated system with heterogeneous melanoma spheroids (BLISH).
- Utilized an in-bath bioprinting process for uniform printing of size-controllable spheroids.
- Created biomimetic blood and lymphatic vessels (LVs) integrated with melanoma spheroids.
Main Results:
- The BLISH system successfully reproduced hallmark events of metastatic melanoma, including tumor-stroma interaction, invasion, and intravasation.
- Demonstrated the system's capability to study melanoma pathophysiology and metastasis.
- Showcased potential for improved accuracy in monitoring skin cancer drug responses.
Conclusions:
- The developed BLISH system effectively models the metastatic melanoma microenvironment in vitro.
- This model aids in understanding melanoma progression and resistance mechanisms.
- The system shows promise for preclinical drug testing and personalized medicine in melanoma treatment.
