3D Bioprinting for Tumor Microenvironment Reconstruction: Advances, Challenges, and Future Perspectives

Cancer remains a major global health burden, and the disconnect between preclinical models and clinical outcomes continues to hinder progress in oncology. Conventional two-dimensional (2D) cell cultures fail to recapitulate the in vivo tumor microenvironment (TME) and consequently show poor predictive power for drug responses. Animal models provide systemic insights but are constrained by interspecies differences, limited throughput, and high costs. Advanced three-dimensional (3D) in vitro platforms, such as spheroids, organoids, and organ-on-chip systems, have improved physiological relevance; however, they often lack the spatial control, reproducibility, and integrative capacity needed to capture the full complexity of the TME. This review posits that the unique value of 3D bioprinting in cancer research lies in its ability to reproducibly integrate the multicomponent complexity of the TME within a controllable spatial framework, a capability that no existing 3D model can provide simultaneously. We outline the technical foundation for TME reconstruction by 3D bioprinting, which encompasses bioink design, printing strategies, and the construction of complex tumor models. We subsequently summarize its applications in tumor biology, drug screening, personalized therapy and preclinical evaluation, and discuss translational challenges, interdisciplinary integration and future research directions. This review is intended to advance both basic cancer research and precision oncology.