Polymer-Based Additive Manufacturing in Cervical Cancer Management: A Review

Cervical cancer management increasingly requires patient-specific and locally adaptable technologies to address complex pelvic anatomy, heterogeneous tumor geometry, limited local drug retention, and the need for improved planning and education. Polymer-based additive manufacturing offers a promising strategy by integrating digital design, customizable three-dimensional geometry, and tunable material properties. This review summarizes recent progress in polymer-based additive manufacturing for cervical-cancer-related applications from a material-process-structure-function perspective. Four application domains are discussed: 3D-printed polymeric devices for brachytherapy assistance, therapeutic scaffolds and local delivery systems, bioprinted research platforms, and patient-specific anatomical models for education, planning, and communication. In brachytherapy, printable templates and applicator accessories can improve anatomical adaptation, needle guidance, and procedural reproducibility. In therapeutic scaffolds, polymers enable local retention, controlled release, mechanical support, mucoadhesion, and mucosal interface regulation. In bioprinted tumor models, hydrogel bioinks provide controllable three-dimensional microenvironments for studying spheroid formation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, drug response, oxygen gradients, and molecular diffusion. Patient-specific anatomical models further support spatial understanding, procedural training, multidisciplinary communication, and patient-centered decision-making. Future progress will depend on standardized workflows, clinically relevant validation, material safety evaluation, and integration with personalized oncology.