Vascularized tumor model
In contrast to the currently applied cell-culture systems, which only provide a very limited insight into the complex interrelations of tissue differentiation, carcinogenesis, angiogenesis and the role of stroma cells, the more realistic tissue-specific vascularized threedimensional bioartificial tumor tissues may advance the development of new cancer therapeutics and treatments.
Vascularized bioartificial human tumor tissue in vitro. A Culturing device. The vascularized matrix is perfused via the arterial pedicle. The vascular network within the matrix represents a closed circuit consisting of an arterial inflow, a capillary network, and a venous return. B Diagram of the tubular tissue culture. Culture medium is injected via the arterial pedicle into the biological capillarized matrix (BioCaM). C Tumor cells including tumor stroma are seeded on the luminal surface of the tubelike scaffold. In this way scaffold and tumor cells form two separated cell compartiments which interact at the boundary of the scaffold and its lumen.
The threedimensional bioartificial tumor model is applied to study the following issues:
- role of stromal cells in tumorigenesis and carcinogenesis
- interrelation of tumor cells and endothelial cells
- investigation of stem cell invasion migration phenomena into the tumor tissue
- vasculogenesis and angiogenesis
- anti-angiogenetic effects of potential chemotherapeutic agents