Recent developments of 3D models of the tumor microenvironment for cutaneous melanoma: Bridging the gap between the bench and the bedside?

In cancer drug discovery, 3D approaches have been implemented over the last years to model the complex tumor architecture and the heterogenous components of the tumor microenvironment. Cutaneous melanoma represents a cancer of substantial unmet need with steadily growing incidence. Bioengineering techniques are increasingly applied to design melanoma-specific models. Here, we summarize how extracellular and cellular elements of the melanoma tumor microenvironment have been studied in 3D cell culture models. We review the benefits of such models and address their limitations and future perspectives for the development of novel therapeutic strategies.