STUDY. Choosing the right treatment in gastric cancer, facilitated by 3D bioprint technology
The Future of Cancer Treatment: Innovative 3D Models for Personalized Medicine
The effectiveness of anti-cancer treatments could soon be rapidly and accurately evaluated for individual patients. This groundbreaking advancement is made possible by an in vitro model that uses 3D bioprinting technology to simulate the tumor microenvironment. Unlike traditional methods that often take significant time and resources, this model has the unique ability to maintain the tissue features of each individual patient, ensuring high specificity in estimating therapeutic response and prognosis. This innovative approach is detailed in a study published in the journal Advanced Biology.
The in vitro model is capable of evaluating a patient’s response to both single therapies and therapeutic combinations, with a remarkably short turnaround time of just two weeks from the patient’s sample. The primary goal of the model is to reproduce the characteristics of each patient as accurately as possible, ensuring that the evaluation of treatment response remains highly accurate and reliable. “By reproducing the interactions of the tumor cell – stroma and cell – extracellular matrix, this model improves the accuracy of predictions regarding the response of a patient to treatment and reduces the unnecessary administration of drugs in patients who prove that, in fact, they do not respond to that treatment,” states the study coordinator Prof. Charles Lee from The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine.
When we think about the
stomach cancerrates of developed states, we presume there are a lot of developed treatments for it: Ultraviolet exposure, smoking, alcohol consumption andHelicobacter pyloriare responsible for some 80% of cases. Gastrointestinal cancers dominate the cancer rates for men.This development not only promises to revolutionize cancer treatment but also holds significant implications for personalized medicine. Traditional methods of predicting treatment outcomes often come with limitations, including long evaluation periods and high costs. Furthermore, they are applicable to only a small number of patients. In stark contrast, the 3D bioprinting model offers rapid manufacturing techniques, cost-effectiveness, and increased specificity. The results are notable, with evaluations of anti-cancer treatments being possible within just two weeks from the isolation of patients’ cells, marking a significant shift towards personalization and efficiency in cancer care.
The rapid development and application of this 3D printed model, created by the collaborative efforts of the Pohang University of Science and Technology, South Korea, and The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine in the U.S., offer the perfect remedy to many patients by encapsulating tumor tissues derived from patients. Researchers only need a single gram of human tissue from a biopsy to obtain 130 specimens. This process involves a hydrogel co-culture with human fibroblasts, which replicatively mimics the interactions of tumor cells with the stroma and extracellular matrix, thus recreating the tumor microenvironment in vitro.
“By introducing this step change in diagnostic practices, we empower healthcare providers to tailor treatments to the patient’s specific needs while avoiding ineffective treatments. This innovation isn’t just about curing disease; it’s about giving patients a better quality of life.”
— Richard Lewis, Associated Partner – Global Medical Director, Medidata Solutions
The ability to rapidly evaluate treatment effectiveness and personalized predictions leads to better clinical outcomes and a reduction in unnecessary and potentially harmful treatments. By integrating this technology, healthcare providers more accurately predict which therapeutic strategies will benefit an individual, and marketers improve the efficacy of their treatments which are administered to American victims of the deadly virus (helicobacter pylori
).
The clinical applications are expansive. In the U.S., where cancer is the second leading cause of death, such innovations could significantly improve patient outcomes. For example, breast cancer patients could see quicker and more reliable assessments of treatment efficacy, allowing for timely adjustments and minimizing suffering. Similarly, in prostate cancer, the need for long-term, invasive treatments might be mitigated with more accurate predictions of therapeutic response, preventing extreme interferences in patient’s daily lives from useless treatments
The recent advancements demonstrate the potential for 3D bioprinting to transform cancer treatment and personalized medicine. As research continues and technology evolves, we can expect even more breakthroughs in this domain.