Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy
Cell culture is a crucial technology in life science research, particularly in cancer studies. The morphology and biological properties of tumor cells, along with the mechanisms of tumor development, are highly dependent on their culture conditions. Antitumor drug sensitivity testing is essential fo...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Frontiers Media S.A.
2025-08-01
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| Series: | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1498141/full |
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| author | Yan Zhou Yan Zhou Feiyuan Yu Min Guo Yao Tang Yao Tang Qian Xu |
| author_facet | Yan Zhou Yan Zhou Feiyuan Yu Min Guo Yao Tang Yao Tang Qian Xu |
| author_sort | Yan Zhou |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Cell culture is a crucial technology in life science research, particularly in cancer studies. The morphology and biological properties of tumor cells, along with the mechanisms of tumor development, are highly dependent on their culture conditions. Antitumor drug sensitivity testing is essential for cancer treatment, helping to identify effective therapies and reduce patient treatment burden. Currently, 2D cell culture remains the primary method for antitumor drug sensitivity testing due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of operation, and high-throughput screening capability. However, it does not accurately replicate the tumor microenvironment. Animal models are important tools for drug development, but they are not suitable for high-throughput screening. Recent advancements in 3D culture technologies have addressed this limitation. These technologies can better mimic the tumor microenvironment and can accurately reflect tumor biological behavior, gene expression, and signaling pathways. This paper summarizes the current in vitro and in vivo culture models, discusses emerging three-dimensional cell culture technologies, and highlights their ability to effectively simulate the tumor microenvironment and their significant potential in drug sensitivity testing. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-bcbd2d1b35a14b5e833827139bdacbc4 |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2296-4185 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-08-01 |
| publisher | Frontiers Media S.A. |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology |
| spelling | doaj-art-bcbd2d1b35a14b5e833827139bdacbc42025-08-20T03:03:54ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology2296-41852025-08-011310.3389/fbioe.2025.14981411498141Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracyYan Zhou0Yan Zhou1Feiyuan Yu2Min Guo3Yao Tang4Yao Tang5Qian Xu6Laboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, ChinaDepartment of Pathology, Huizhou First People’s Hospital, Huizhou, ChinaDepartment of Cell Biology and Genetics, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, ChinaStem Cell Clinical Research and Application Center, Zibo Central Hospital, Zibo, ChinaLaboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, ChinaGreenebaum Cancer Center, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United StatesLaboratory of Molecular Pathology, Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, ChinaCell culture is a crucial technology in life science research, particularly in cancer studies. The morphology and biological properties of tumor cells, along with the mechanisms of tumor development, are highly dependent on their culture conditions. Antitumor drug sensitivity testing is essential for cancer treatment, helping to identify effective therapies and reduce patient treatment burden. Currently, 2D cell culture remains the primary method for antitumor drug sensitivity testing due to its cost-effectiveness, ease of operation, and high-throughput screening capability. However, it does not accurately replicate the tumor microenvironment. Animal models are important tools for drug development, but they are not suitable for high-throughput screening. Recent advancements in 3D culture technologies have addressed this limitation. These technologies can better mimic the tumor microenvironment and can accurately reflect tumor biological behavior, gene expression, and signaling pathways. This paper summarizes the current in vitro and in vivo culture models, discusses emerging three-dimensional cell culture technologies, and highlights their ability to effectively simulate the tumor microenvironment and their significant potential in drug sensitivity testing.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1498141/full3D cell culturetumor microenvironmentorganoidsdrug sensitivity testingdrug screening |
| spellingShingle | Yan Zhou Yan Zhou Feiyuan Yu Min Guo Yao Tang Yao Tang Qian Xu Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy Frontiers in Bioengineering and Biotechnology 3D cell culture tumor microenvironment organoids drug sensitivity testing drug screening |
| title | Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy |
| title_full | Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy |
| title_fullStr | Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy |
| title_full_unstemmed | Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy |
| title_short | Bridging the gap: the role of 3D cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy |
| title_sort | bridging the gap the role of 3d cell cultures in mimicking tumor microenvironment for enhanced drug testing accuracy |
| topic | 3D cell culture tumor microenvironment organoids drug sensitivity testing drug screening |
| url | https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fbioe.2025.1498141/full |
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