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A Self-Assembly Method for Creating Vascularized Tumor Explants Using Biomaterials for 3D Culture
Lance L Munn1, Despina Bazou2,3
1Edwin L. Steele Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
Methods in Molecular Biology (Clifton, N.J.)
|May 18, 2023
Summary
We developed a novel ex vivo tumor model for drug screening. This method accurately reflects human tumors, enabling faster and more ethical cancer drug discovery.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Validating cancer therapeutic targets requires functional assays that mimic human tumor biology.
- Existing models like tissue culture and patient-derived xenografts have limitations in representation, speed, or ethics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To present a new methodology for maintaining ex vivo tumor samples for in vitro drug screening.
- To enable patient-specific chemotherapy guidance using a physiologically relevant model.
Main Methods:
- Harvesting tumor biopsies from mice or patients.
- Integrating excised tumor samples into a support tissue with stroma and vasculature.
- Utilizing this integrated model for in vitro drug screening and high-throughput assays.
Main Results:
- The methodology provides a more representative model than traditional tissue culture assays.
- It is faster than patient-derived xenograft models and amenable to high-throughput screening.
- The model avoids ethical issues and high costs associated with animal studies.
Conclusions:
- This ex vivo tumor model is a viable and effective tool for cancer drug screening.
- It offers a faster, more ethical, and physiologically relevant alternative for therapeutic target validation.
- The model supports the development of patient-specific chemotherapies.
