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Three-Dimensional Bioprinting-Enabled Organoids for Engineering the Tumor Microenvironment
Yehua Li1, Jiale Shi1, Qin Zhang2
1College of Life Science, Northwest Normal University, Lanzhou, China.
Tissue Engineering. Part B, Reviews
|July 23, 2026
Summary
Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting offers advanced models of the tumor microenvironment (TME) for cancer research. These engineered systems improve upon traditional models, enabling better drug screening and precision oncology.
Area of Science:
- Biomedical Engineering
- Cancer Biology
- Regenerative Medicine
Background:
- The tumor microenvironment (TME) is crucial for tumor progression and immunotherapy response.
- Current research models (2D cultures, xenografts, PDOs) lack TME complexity and physiological relevance.
- Three-dimensional (3D) bioprinting enables precise spatial control for building TME-like models.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review 3D bioprinting technologies for reconstructing the TME.
- To evaluate applications in modeling TME features and drug responses.
- To identify challenges and future directions for bioprinted TME models.
Main Methods:
- Review of extrusion-based, droplet-based, and photopolymerization-based 3D bioprinting.
- Evaluation of TME feature reconstruction (matrix remodeling, vascularization, immune cell integration).
- Analysis of drug response modeling using bioprinted organoids.
Main Results:
- 3D bioprinting allows controlled spatial architecture, matrix properties, and multicellular organization.
- Bioprinted models can recapitulate key TME features and assess drug responses.
- Distinction made between bioprinted organoid-based and tumor cell models regarding biological fidelity.
Conclusions:
- 3D bioprinting is a powerful tool for creating physiologically relevant TME models.
- Challenges remain in integrating patient-derived organoids and ensuring long-term stability.
- Future work should focus on enhancing multicellular coculture and functional stability for improved translational relevance.
