From 2D to 3D Bioprinted In Vitro Breast Cancer Model: A Comparative Study of Proliferation, Tissue Structure, and...

Area of Science:

• Biomedical Engineering
• Cancer Research
• Tissue Engineering

Background:

• Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting is a promising alternative to animal testing for preclinical cancer models.
• Standardized and comparable 3D bioprinted models are needed for reliable research.
• This study focuses on characterizing a 3D bioprinted breast carcinoma model using the T47D cell line.

Purpose of the Study:

• To characterize the growth dynamics, tissue architecture, and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway activity of a 3D bioprinted breast carcinoma model.
• To compare these features with conventional two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures.
• To assess the responsiveness of the 3D model to mTOR inhibitors and chemotherapeutic agents.

Main Methods:

• Generated tissue-mimetic structures (TMSs) using 3D bioprinting with T47D cells.
• Analyzed cell viability, proliferation, autophagy, apoptosis, and expression of adhesion proteins in 3D TMSs and 2D cultures.
• Assessed mTOR pathway activity and drug response (rapamycin, ipatasertib, cisplatin) in both 3D and 2D models.

Main Results:

• 3D bioprinted TMSs remained viable for up to 3 weeks, developing a tissue-like architecture with heterogeneous marker expression and complex cellular organization.
• Compared to 2D cultures, 3D TMSs showed reduced mTOR signaling activity.
• 3D TMSs exhibited significantly decreased sensitivity to mTOR inhibition compared to 2D cultures.

Conclusions:

• 3D bioprinted breast cancer models more accurately recapitulate in situ tumor features than 2D systems.
• These advanced 3D models hold significant potential for preclinical drug testing and mechanistic studies in breast cancer.
• The characterized 3D bioprinted model provides a valuable platform for reproducible cancer research.