3D bioprinted in vitro models in cancer metabolism research

Cancer metabolism is a central field in oncology, strongly serving as critical adaptation mechanism driving tumour progression, therapeutic response, and patient prognosis. The complexity of tumour metabolism remains difficult to mimic using conventional experimental conditions. Preclinical models, including in vitro 2D cultures and in vivo animal models, often fail to accurately reproduce the dynamic tissue alterations. Increasing evidence highlights the crucial role of the tumour microenvironment, nutrient availability, hypoxia, extracellular matrix components, and metabolic crosstalk between cancer, stromal, and immune cells in shaping tumour metabolic rewiring. Consequently, advanced 3D culture systems have gained significant attention, offering new perspectives for modelling cellular complexity and metabolic heterogeneity. This review summarises metabolic adaptation mechanisms influenced by microenvironment, and discusses the evolution of current modelling. Furthermore, through our own research in 3D bioprinting, we highlight the emerging role of 3D bioprinted models in tumour biology, cancer metabolism research and drug sensitivity studies.