At CELLINK Bioprinting, we have developed a multicellular 3D bioprinted lung cancer assembloid model. We did this by incorporating human lung cancer cells (A549), lung adenocarcinoma-associated fibroblasts, and human umbilical vein endothelial cells in a laminin and collagen rich stromal environment. The use of genetically encoded fluorescent cancer cells was a great help in the visualization process. As a result, we were able to visualize the migration of cancer cells and merging of cancer spheroids within the extracellular matrix (ECM). A series of histological analysis and immunofluorescent staining were conducted to verify the morphology and expression of various markers of 3D lung cancer tissue.
Conventional 3D models, including organoids and spheroids, have a major limitation. It’s the lack of a native microenvironment where differing cell-cell communications and cellular migrations take place within an ECM-based stroma. Establishment of such native tumor microenvironment is critical to understand disease progression and developing robust drug discovery studies.
The model and analysis protocols in this webinar can easily be adapted for other cancer and healthy tissue models. These can be used to study not only oncology, but also many other applications. Including developmental biology, regenerative medicine, and toxicology. Watch the webinar now to learn more.
