Complexity in in-vitro tumor microenvironment reconstruction for drug screening and personalized medicine

Abstract

Cancer cells do not exist in isolation; their dynamic interaction with other cells and non-cell components in the tumor microenvironment (TME) allows them to divide and evolve. Recent research has significantly impacted the importance of TME in vitro models for cancer therapy and the varied degrees of complexity among them. The complex biology of the TME has been recreated using cutting-edge technologies, including 3D bioprinting and tumor-on-a-chip models using different cell types and biomaterials. Therefore, it is crucial to classify the recently produced 3D in-vitro cancer models according to the cell type population(s) used to mimic the complexity. By concentrating on the relevance of these models to in-vivo conditions, this review attempts to strengthen the foundation for chemotherapeutic drug research and personalized treatment.