New 3D tumor models developed in the laboratory may help improve therapies for ovarian cancer

  In the latest research report published in the international journal "Science Advances", scientists from the University of Nottingham and other institutions have studied 3D tumor models of ovarian cancer in the laboratory. Related research results may be useful. Understand the causes of ovarian cancer and develop new targeted therapies. The multicellular 3D microenvironment created by the researchers can reproduce the pattern of tumor cell growth in ovarian cancer and its response to chemicals.

  Currently, researchers need improved 3D cancer models to study tumor growth, progression and response to new treatments in patients with ovarian cancer. 90% of successful cancer treatments in preclinical trials are early clinical trials and the trials have failed. Less than 5% of oncology drugs can be used in clinical trials. Preclinical research mainly relies on 2D laboratory cell culture and animal models to predict patient response to treatment. However, traditional 2D cell culture cannot mimic the important characteristics of tumor tissue. Due to species differences, many successful treatments performed in animal hosts may also be ineffective in human clinical trials. Therefore, researchers need to develop new types. Experimental 3D cancer models can better reconstruct the human tumor microenvironment while taking into account the specific differences between patients.

  This new type of hydrogel biomaterial is assembled from peptides and special proteins found in ovarian cancer. Its formation mechanism can promote peptides to assemble these proteins into the molecular environment. You can simulate the appearance of the tumor in the patient. Researcher Alvaro Mata (Alvaro Mata) said that the bioengineering self-organizing model can expand the experimental library of researchers, while studying tumor growth and progression in a biologically relevant and controllable manner. Yes, in this study, researchers can: peptide amphiphilic molecules and extracellular matrix proteins assemble together to form a tunable 3D model in the tumor microenvironment. This peptide white complex model can try to simulate the physical, biomolecular and cellular properties of the tumor in the patient, and then the researchers use chemotherapy to act in the multicellular structure. To confirm this, the drug was used to test the response of tumors growing in the laboratory. As a result, we observed that the tumor began to shrink. This indicates that this new type of peptide leukocyte biomaterial may be more effective. Conduct new drugs and treatment trials for ovarian cancer.

  Self-organization is the process of assembling multiple components into a stronger structure. Biological systems rely on this process to control the entry of molecules and cells into complex functional tissues. These organizations have extraordinary attributes known to researchers. Ability to extend, replicate and execute powerful functions. Finally, the researcher Danielaesner said that the gold standard for 3D cancer models is Matrigel Tm, a soluble basement membrane structure extracted from mouse sarcoma. One of the main reasons for Matrigel's popularity is its ability to promote cell interaction. The interaction between the stroma promotes the growth of cancer, and the mechanism cells become aggregates called spheroids. However, due to batch variability, unclear ingredients and animal origins, the 3D cancer model is still under control in simulating the tumor environment. These characteristics have brought great limitations for scientists to effectively screen and develop new cancer treatment methods. The results of this study demonstrate the ability of scientists to design 3D models that can be used as important complex, controllable and interchangeable biological materials.