Converging bioprinting and organoids to better recapitulate the tumor microenvironment

Abstract

Bioprinting shows excellent potential for preclinical tumor modeling, with significant advantages over 2D cell cultures in replicating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Recently, the use of tumor organoids in bioprinting models has emerged as a groundbreaking approach to simulate volumetric tumor tissues. This synergetic fabrication method leverages the advantages of the spatial and geometric control of bioprinting to assemble heterogeneous TME components, while tumor organoids maintain collective cell behaviors. In this review, we provide a landscape of the latest progress on the convergence of 3D bioprinting and tumor organoids. Furthermore, we discuss the potential to incorporate organ-on-a-chip with bioprinting tumor organoids to improve the biomimicry and predictability of therapeutic performance. Lastly, we address the challenges to personalized medicine and predictive clinical integration.

Keywords: 3D bioprinting; organ-on-a-chip; preclinical tumor modeling; tumor microenvironment; tumor organoid.