Three-Dimensional-Printed In Vitro Model of Colorectal Cancer with Immune Microenvironment and Reprogramming...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cancer Research
• Immunology

Background:

• The tumor microenvironment (TME) and its immunological microenvironment (IMM) are key factors in tumor progression and treatment response.
• Simulating TME and IMM interactions *in vitro* is crucial for understanding cancer and evaluating therapies.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop an *in vitro* 3D tumor immune tissue model using 3D-printed scaffolds.
• To mimic *in vivo* cell physiology and investigate tumor-immune cell interactions.
• To assess the model's potential for simulating tumorigenesis, drug resistance, and personalized therapy.

Main Methods:

• Co-culturing colorectal cancer cells and macrophages on 3D-printed Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds.
• Utilizing immunofluorescence to analyze macrophage polarization markers (CD68, CD163).
• Conducting drug resistance tests comparing 3D and 2D culture models.

Main Results:

• The 3D model showed significant upregulation of CD68 (3.6-fold) and M2 macrophage marker CD163 (2.7-fold) compared to 2D cultures.
• The 3D model demonstrated enhanced drug resistance with fewer dead cells.
• The developed 3D tumor immune tissue model exhibited stable tumorigenic capacity and structural similarity to patient tumor tissues.

Conclusions:

• The *in vitro* 3D tumor immune tissue model effectively simulates tumor development and immune cell interactions.
• This model shows potential for personalized cancer therapy and advancing tumor immunity research.
• The 3D model provides a valuable platform for investigating cancer biology and therapeutic strategies.