3D tumor cultures for drug resistance and screening development in clinical applications

Abstract

Tumor drug resistance presents a growing challenge in medical practice, particularly during anti-cancer therapies, where the emergence of drug-resistant cancer cells significantly complicates clinical treatment. In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) tumor culture technology, which more effectively simulates the in vivo physiological environment, has gained increasing attention in tumor drug resistance research and clinical applications. By mimicking the in vivo cellular microenvironment, 3D tumor culture technology not only recapitulates cell-cell interactions but also more faithfully reproduces the biological effects of therapeutic agents. Consequently, 3D tumor culture technology is emerging as a crucial tool in biomedical and clinical research. We summarize the benefits of 3D culture models and organoid technology, explore their application in the realm of drug resistance, drug screening, and personalized therapy, and discuss their potential application prospects and challenges in clinical transformation, with the aim of providing insights for optimizing cancer treatment strategies and advancing precision therapy.