title: "In vitro" 3D models of tumor-immune system interaction.
abstract: Interaction between cancer cells and immune system critically affects development, progression and treatment of human malignancies. Experimental animal models and conventional "in vitro" studies have provided a wealth of information on this interaction, currently used to develop immune-mediated therapies. Studies utilizing three-dimensional culture technologies have emphasized that tumor architecture dramatically influences cancer cell-immune system interaction by steering cytokine production and regulating differentiation patterns of myeloid cells, and decreasing the sensitivity of tumor cells to lymphocyte effector functions. Hypoxia and increased production of lactic acid by tumor cells cultured in 3D architectures appear to be mechanistically involved. 3D culture systems could be further developed to (i) include additional cell partners potentially influencing cancer cell-immune system interaction, (ii) enable improved control of hypoxia, and (iii) allow the use of freshly derived clinical cancer specimens. Such advanced models will represent new tools for cancer immunobiology studies and for pre-clinical assessment of innovative treatments.
authors.affiliation: "Oncology" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Christian
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hirt
authors.affiliation: "Tissue Engineering" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland; Cellec Biotek, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Adam
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Papadimitropoulos
authors.affiliation: "Oncology" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Mele
authors.affiliation: "Oncology" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Manuele G
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Muraro
authors.affiliation: "Oncology" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Chantal
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mengus
authors.affiliation: "Cancer Immunotherapy" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Giandomenica
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Iezzi
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pathology, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland.
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Terracciano
authors.affiliation: "Tissue Engineering" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: ivan.martin@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Ivan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: "Oncology" lab., Department of Surgery and Department of Biomedicine, University Hospital Basel, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland. Electronic address: giulio.spagnoli@usb.ch.
authors.forename: Giulio C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Spagnoli
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D018929:Cell Culture Techniques; D002454:Cell Differentiation; D015687:Cell Hypoxia / Q000276:immunology; D016207:Cytokines / Q000276:immunology; D018450:Disease Progression; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019344:Lactic Acid / Q000378:metabolism; D008954:Models, Biological; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000276:immunology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D016207:Cytokines; D019344:Lactic Acid
keywords: Cancer; Hypoxia; Immune system; Perfusion bioreactors; Three-dimensional cultures