title: Translating tissue engineering technology platforms into cancer research.
abstract: Technology platforms originally developed for tissue engineering applications produce valuable models that mimic three-dimensional (3D) tissue organization and function to enhance the understanding of cell/tissue function under normal and pathological situations. These models show that when replicating physiological and pathological conditions as closely as possible investigators are allowed to probe the basic mechanisms of morphogenesis, differentiation and cancer. Significant efforts investigating angiogenetic processes and factors in tumorigenesis are currently undertaken to establish ways of targeting angiogenesis in tumours. Anti-angiogenic agents have been accepted for clinical application as attractive targeted therapeutics for the treatment of cancer. Combining the areas of tumour angiogenesis, combination therapies and drug delivery systems is therefore closely related to the understanding of the basic principles that are applied in tissue engineering models. Studies with 3D model systems have repeatedly identified complex interacting roles of matrix stiffness and composition, integrins, growth factor receptors and signalling in development and cancer. These insights suggest that plasticity, regulation and suppression of these processes can provide strategies and therapeutic targets for future cancer therapies. The historical perspective of the fields of tissue engineering and controlled release of therapeutics, including inhibitors of angiogenesis in tumours is becoming clearly evident as a major future advance in merging these fields. New delivery systems are expected to greatly enhance the ability to deliver drugs locally and in therapeutic concentrations to relevant sites in living organisms. Investigating the phenomena of angiogenesis and anti-angiogenesis in 3D in vivo models such as the Arterio-Venous (AV) loop mode in a separated and isolated chamber within a living organism adds another significant horizon to this perspective and opens new modalities for translational research in this field.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland, Australia.
authors.forename: Dietmar W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Hutmacher
authors.forename: Raymund E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Horch
authors.forename: Daniela
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Loessner
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Rizzi
authors.forename: Shirly
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sieh
authors.forename: Johannes C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Reichert
authors.forename: Judith A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Clements
authors.forename: Justus P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Beier
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Arkudas
authors.forename: Oliver
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Bleiziffer
authors.forename: Ulrich
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Kneser
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D042783:Endothelial Cells / Q000166:cytology; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000266:history / Q000379:methods*; D054457:Tissue Scaffolds; D057170:Translational Research, Biomedical