3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment
The tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in tumour progression and drug resistance processes. Non-malignant cell players, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells and others, interact with each other and with the tumour cells, shaping the disease. Though the role of each cell ty...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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MDPI AG
2021-09-01
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| Series: | Cancers |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/18/4610 |
| _version_ | 1797520014315618304 |
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| author | Teresa Franchi-Mendes Rodrigo Eduardo Giacomo Domenici Catarina Brito |
| author_facet | Teresa Franchi-Mendes Rodrigo Eduardo Giacomo Domenici Catarina Brito |
| author_sort | Teresa Franchi-Mendes |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in tumour progression and drug resistance processes. Non-malignant cell players, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells and others, interact with each other and with the tumour cells, shaping the disease. Though the role of each cell type and cell communication mechanisms have been progressively studied, the complexity of this cellular network and its role in disease mechanism and therapeutic response are still being unveiled. Animal models have been mainly used, as they can represent systemic interactions and conditions, though they face recognized limitations in translational potential due to interspecies differences. In vitro 3D cancer models can surpass these limitations, by incorporating human cells, including patient-derived ones, and allowing a range of experimental designs with precise control of each tumour microenvironment element. We summarize the role of each tumour microenvironment component and review studies proposing 3D co-culture strategies of tumour cells and non-malignant cell components. Moreover, we discuss the potential of these modelling approaches to uncover potential therapeutic targets in the tumour microenvironment and assess therapeutic efficacy, current bottlenecks and perspectives. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:50:50Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-fb2c7128f79f4e3795b8b94faf8471b8 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2072-6694 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-10T07:50:50Z |
| publishDate | 2021-09-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cancers |
| spelling | doaj.art-fb2c7128f79f4e3795b8b94faf8471b82023-11-22T12:17:51ZengMDPI AGCancers2072-66942021-09-011318461010.3390/cancers131846103D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour MicroenvironmentTeresa Franchi-Mendes0Rodrigo Eduardo1Giacomo Domenici2Catarina Brito3iBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugaliBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugaliBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugaliBET—Instituto de Biologia Experimental e Tecnológica, Apartado 12, 2781-901 Oeiras, PortugalThe tumour microenvironment plays a critical role in tumour progression and drug resistance processes. Non-malignant cell players, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, immune cells and others, interact with each other and with the tumour cells, shaping the disease. Though the role of each cell type and cell communication mechanisms have been progressively studied, the complexity of this cellular network and its role in disease mechanism and therapeutic response are still being unveiled. Animal models have been mainly used, as they can represent systemic interactions and conditions, though they face recognized limitations in translational potential due to interspecies differences. In vitro 3D cancer models can surpass these limitations, by incorporating human cells, including patient-derived ones, and allowing a range of experimental designs with precise control of each tumour microenvironment element. We summarize the role of each tumour microenvironment component and review studies proposing 3D co-culture strategies of tumour cells and non-malignant cell components. Moreover, we discuss the potential of these modelling approaches to uncover potential therapeutic targets in the tumour microenvironment and assess therapeutic efficacy, current bottlenecks and perspectives.https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/18/46103D cell modelstumour microenvironmentheterotypic interactionscell communicationimmune infiltratecancer-associated fibroblasts |
| spellingShingle | Teresa Franchi-Mendes Rodrigo Eduardo Giacomo Domenici Catarina Brito 3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment Cancers 3D cell models tumour microenvironment heterotypic interactions cell communication immune infiltrate cancer-associated fibroblasts |
| title | 3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment |
| title_full | 3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment |
| title_fullStr | 3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment |
| title_full_unstemmed | 3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment |
| title_short | 3D Cancer Models: Depicting Cellular Crosstalk within the Tumour Microenvironment |
| title_sort | 3d cancer models depicting cellular crosstalk within the tumour microenvironment |
| topic | 3D cell models tumour microenvironment heterotypic interactions cell communication immune infiltrate cancer-associated fibroblasts |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/13/18/4610 |
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