Designing a bio-inspired biomimetic in vitro system for the optimization of ex vivo studies of pancreatic cancer.
Pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive and lethal human malignancies. Drug therapies and radiotherapy are used for treatment as adjuvants to surgery, but outcomes remain disappointing. Advances in tissue engineering suggest that 3D cultures can reflect the in vivo tumor microenvironment and can guarantee a physiological distribution of oxygen, nutrients, and drugs, making them promising low-cost tools for therapy development. Here, we review crucial structural and environmental elements that should be considered for an accurate design of an ex vivo platform for studies of pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we propose environmental stress response biomarkers as platform readouts for the efficient control and further prediction of the pancreatic cancer response to the environmental and treatment input.
Bioprocess and Biochemical Engineering Group (BioProChem), Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
Stella
S
Totti
Biological Systems Engineering Laboratory (BSEL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ London, UK.
Spyros I
SI
Vernardis
Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK.
Lisiane
L
Meira
Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool,Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Pedro A
PA
Pérez-Mancera
Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool,Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK; NIHR Liverpool Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit, University of Liverpool,Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Eithne
E
Costello
NIHR Liverpool Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit, University of Liverpool,Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
William
W
Greenhalf
Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool,Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
Daniel
D
Palmer
Department of Molecular and Clinical Cancer Medicine, University of Liverpool,Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK; NIHR Liverpool Pancreas Biomedical Research Unit, University of Liverpool,Daulby Street, Liverpool L69 3GA, UK.
John
J
Neoptolemos
Biological Systems Engineering Laboratory (BSEL), Department of Chemical Engineering, Imperial College London, SW7 2AZ London, UK.
Athanasios
A
Mantalaris
Bioprocess and Biochemical Engineering Group (BioProChem), Department of Chemical and Process Engineering, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, UK. Electronic address: e.velliou@surrey.ac.uk.
Eirini G
EG
Velliou
D000818:Animals; D000970:Antineoplastic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D032701:Biomimetics / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000188:drug therapy*; D023822:Tissue Engineering / Q000379:methods; D059016:Tumor Microenvironment / Q000187:drug effects
D000970:Antineoplastic Agents