Optimizing cell culture conditions is essential to ensure experimental reproducibility. To improve the accuracy of preclinical predictions about the response of tumor cells to different classes of drugs, researchers have used 2D or 3D cell cultures in vitro to mimic the cellular processes occurring in vivo. While 2D cell culture provides valuable information on how therapeutic agents act on tumor cells, it cannot quantify how the tumor microenvironment influences the response to therapy. This review presents the necessary strategies for transitioning from 2D to 3D cell cultures, which have facilitated the rapid evolution of bioengineering techniques, leading to the development of microfluidic technology, including organ-on-chip and tumor-on-chip devices. Additionally, the study aims to highlight the impact of the advent of 3D bioprinting and microfluidic technology and their implications for improving cancer treatment and approaching personalized therapy, especially for lung cancer. Furthermore, implementing microfluidic technology in cancer studies can generate a series of challenges and future perspectives that lead to the discovery of new predictive markers or targets for antitumor treatment.
Keywords: 2D and 3D cell culture; lung cancer; organoids; spheroids; tumor microenvironment; tumor-on-chip.