Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
Long-term drug evaluation heavily relies upon rodent models. Drug discovery methods to reduce animal models in oncology may include three-dimensional (3D) cellular systems that take into account tumor microenvironment (TME) cell types and biomechanical properties.Methods
In this study we reconstructed a 3D tumor using an elastic polymer (acrylate-endcapped urethane-based poly(ethylene glycol) (AUPPEG)) with clinical relevant stiffness. Single cell suspensions from low-grade serous ovarian cancer (LGSOC) patient-derived early passage cultures of cancer cells and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAF) embedded in a collagen gel were introduced to the AUPPEG scaffold. After self-organization in to a 3D tumor, this model was evaluated by a long-term (> 40 days) exposure to a drug combination of MEK and HSP90 inhibitors. The drug-response results from this long-term in vitro model are compared with drug responses in an orthotopic LGSOC xenograft mouse model.Results
The in vitro 3D scaffold LGSOC model mimics the growth ratio and spatial organization of the LGSOC. The AUPPEG scaffold approach allows to test new targeted treatments and monitor long-term drug responses. The results correlate with those of the orthotopic LGSOC xenograft mouse model.Conclusions
The mechanically-tunable scaffolds colonized by a three-dimensional LGSOC allow long-term drug evaluation and can be considered as a valid alternative to reduce, replace and refine animal models in drug discovery.
SUBMITTER: De Vlieghere E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC10583378 | biostudies-literature | 2023 Oct
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
De Vlieghere Elly E Van de Vijver Koen K Blondeel Eva E Carpentier Nathan N Ghobeira Rouba R Pauwels Jarne J Riemann Sebastian S Minsart Manon M Fieuws Charlotte C Mestach Johanna J Baeyens Ans A De Geyter Nathalie N Debbaut Charlotte C Denys Hannelore H Descamps Benedicte B Claes Kathleen K Vral Anne A Van Dorpe Jo J Gevaert Kris K De Geest Bruno G BG Ceelen Wim W Van Vlierberghe Sandra S De Wever Olivier O
Biomaterials research 20231018 1
<h4>Background</h4>Long-term drug evaluation heavily relies upon rodent models. Drug discovery methods to reduce animal models in oncology may include three-dimensional (3D) cellular systems that take into account tumor microenvironment (TME) cell types and biomechanical properties.<h4>Methods</h4>In this study we reconstructed a 3D tumor using an elastic polymer (acrylate-endcapped urethane-based poly(ethylene glycol) (AUPPEG)) with clinical relevant stiffness. Single cell suspensions from low- ...[more]