Scientists Utilizes 3D Printing Technology to Create A Complete Model of Glioblastoma

At present, the commonly used model for tumor research is tumor cells grown in 2D culture dishes, but this model lacks the interaction between tumor and stroma, and cannot well simulate the complex biological environment of tumor growth. This is also the main reason why many anti-tumor drugs show good effects in the laboratory stage, but the actual effects in clinical trials are not good.

Glioblastoma, also known as Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), is a rapidly growing glioma that develops from star-shaped glial cells (astrocytes and oligodendrocytes). GBM, commonly referred to as a grade IV astrocytoma, is the most invasive type of glial tumor that grows rapidly and usually spreads to nearby brain tissue.

To this end, the Israeli team of scientists used 3D printing technology to create a model that can simulate the various biological characteristics of neuroblastoma. The research was published in the journal of Science Advances. Scientists use fibrin-glioblastoma bio-ink composed of glioblastoma cells, astrocytes and microglia to construct a tumor microenvironment, using bio-ink containing pericytes and endothelial cells to create perfusible blood vessels.

Researchers have observed that this 3D bioprinting model can simulate the cell heterogeneity, cell-cell interaction and spatial tomographic features of glioblastoma, and can reproduce various in vivo features of glioblastoma, including growth kinetics, invasion ability, treatment response and genetic characteristics, etc.

Researchers believe that the 3D bioprinting model can better simulate the clinical scenes of various cancer types and may become a reliable technology platform for preclinical research and drug screening.

Because surgery, radiation and chemotherapy are unlikely to result in a prolonged relief of GBMs, researchers are always investigating innovative treatments when the first line therapy has failed. These include gene therapy, highly focused radiation therapy, immunotherapy and chemotherapies in combination with vaccines. It is worth noting that while some of these investigational treatments show promise, the most effective therapies introduced over the past three decades have only improved median survival of GBM patients by an average of three months.

GBMs can arise in the brain directly or evolve from lower-grade astrocytomas or oligodendrogliomas. In adults, GBM occurs most often in the cerebral hemispheres, especially in the frontal and temporal lobes of the brain. GBM is a devastating brain cancer that typically results in death in the first 15 months after diagnosis.