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Updated: May 24, 2026
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A 3D Spheroid Model for Glioblastoma
Published on: April 9, 2020
A microphysiological spheroid system for modeling glioblastoma structure and therapy response
Himanish Ray1, Sushmita Rajkhowa1, Durgesh Meena1
1Inflammation Immunity and Tumour Biology lab, Department of Bioscience and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Jodhpur, N.H. 65, Nagaur Road, Karwar, Jodhpur, Rajasthan, 342037, India.
Biochemical and Biophysical Research Communications
|May 22, 2026
Summary
Glioblastoma (GBM) tumor cells survived chemotherapy when grown with astrocytes, indicating the brain
Area of Science:
- Neuro-oncology
- Cancer Biology
- 3D Cell Culture Models
Background:
- Glioblastoma (GBM) is an aggressive brain tumor with poor prognosis despite standard treatments.
- Tumor microenvironment heterogeneity contributes to treatment resistance and recurrence.
- Existing models often fail to replicate the complex cellular interactions within the GBM niche.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop and characterize a tunable, heterocellular 3D spheroid model of the GBM microenvironment.
- To investigate mechanisms of chemoresistance using this advanced 3D model.
- To assess the impact of glial cells on drug efficacy in GBM.
Main Methods:
- Established three 3D spheroid models: tumor-only (G1), tumor-microglia (G2), and tumor-microglia-astrocyte (G3).
- Characterized spheroid growth dynamics, viability, and morphometrics.
- Treated spheroids with Doxorubicin and Carboplatin to evaluate drug response.
Main Results:
- Spheroids exhibited realistic growth and viability.
- Chemotherapy (Doxorubicin) was less effective in the G3 model (including astrocytes) compared to G1 and G2.
- The presence of astrocytes conferred significant chemoresistance to glioblastoma cells.
Conclusions:
- The heterocellular spheroid model accurately reflects GBM microenvironment interactions.
- Glial cells in the tumor microenvironment mediate drug resistance.
- This 3D platform is valuable for studying chemoresistance and screening novel therapeutic strategies for GBM.
