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3D bioprinting of cancer models: A game-changer in drug discovery and development
Matylda Kurzątkowska1, Joachim Frankowski1, Marcin Sobczak1
1Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Biomaterials, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Warsaw, 1 Banacha Str., 02-097 Warsaw, Poland.
Abstract:
Currently used preclinical in vitro or in vivo models of cancers and tumors face significant limitations. While animal models remain the primary standard for preclinical drug development, several unresolved challenges persist. The most prominent one is the interspecies difference in drug metabolism, which leads to varying pharmacological effects between animal trials and human trials. Consequently, a substantial number of new chemical entities fail to pass preclinical trials, resulting in wasted resources, including materials and animals, during the drug development process. The high mortality and morbidity associated with cancers, coupled with their poor prognosis, necessitate fundamental changes in drug development. Therefore, it is crucial to introduce improved preclinical in vitro cancer and tumor models. In this regard, the application of 3D bioprinting holds great promise for this purpose. 3D bioprinted models offer the potential for personalized therapy, enhancing predictive accuracy of disease and increasing the success of drug screening. Bioinks can be produced using cancer cells obtained from patients or commercial cell banks. 3D bioprinting stands out as an ideal technique due to its affordability, flexibility, and high reproducibility. This comprehensive review provides a detailed overview of the latest applications of 3D bioprinting in various cancer models for drug discovery and development.
Insights
Limitations in current cancer preclinical models hinder drug development. Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting offers a promising solution for creating advanced cancer models, improving drug screening accuracy and personalized therapy potential.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Biotechnology
- Drug Discovery
Background:
- Current preclinical cancer models (in vitro, in vivo, animal models) face significant limitations, including interspecies drug metabolism differences impacting human trial predictability.
- These limitations lead to high failure rates for new chemical entities in drug development, resulting in wasted resources and prolonged timelines.
- The urgent need for improved preclinical models is driven by high cancer mortality and morbidity rates.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the latest applications of 3D bioprinting in developing advanced preclinical cancer models.
- To highlight the potential of 3D bioprinting for personalized therapy, enhanced disease prediction, and successful drug screening.
- To provide a comprehensive overview of 3D bioprinting techniques in cancer research for drug discovery and development.
Main Methods:
- Utilizing patient-derived or commercial cancer cells to create bioinks for 3D bioprinting.
- Employing 3D bioprinting technology to fabricate diverse cancer and tumor models.
- Reviewing the literature on the application of these 3D bioprinted models in drug discovery and development.
Main Results:
- 3D bioprinted cancer models demonstrate potential for personalized therapy and improved predictive accuracy.
- The technique offers enhanced success rates for drug screening compared to traditional models.
- 3D bioprinting is highlighted as an affordable, flexible, and highly reproducible method for creating cancer models.
Conclusions:
- 3D bioprinting represents a significant advancement in preclinical cancer modeling for drug discovery.
- These advanced models can overcome limitations of traditional methods, improving the efficiency and success of drug development.
- The application of 3D bioprinting holds promise for more accurate and personalized cancer treatments.
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