Cellular and Microbial In Vitro Modelling of Gastrointestinal Cancer

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cell Biology
• Gastroenterology

Background:

• Human diseases involve complex cellular, organ, and immune system dysfunctions.
• In vitro models provide standardized platforms for dissecting specific disease aspects.
• Technological advancements have evolved models from 2D cultures to complex 3D organoids and bioreactors.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review in vitro systems for modeling gastrointestinal tract cancer.
• To examine in vitro models for simulating cancer treatment side effects.
• To highlight bioreactor-based systems incorporating the gut microbiome.

Main Methods:

• Review of advancements in cell culture techniques, from 2D to 3D and organoids.
• Focus on bioreactor systems simulating organ-specific physicochemical environments (e.g., perfusion, mucus layer).
• Inclusion of models that integrate the gut microbiome for enhanced physiological relevance.

Main Results:

• Bioreactor systems offer superior physiological relevance compared to traditional cell cultures.
• Advanced in vitro models enable precise dissection of disease mechanisms and treatment responses.
• High-throughput adaptation of these systems facilitates broader research applications.

Conclusions:

• Bioreactor-based in vitro models, especially those with gut microbiome integration, are crucial for studying gastrointestinal cancer.
• These advanced models offer enhanced precision for understanding disease pathology and treatment side effects.
• The review emphasizes the progression and utility of sophisticated in vitro systems in biomedical research.