Applications of Tumor Cells in an In Vitro 3D Environment

Spherical, multicellular aggregates of tumor cells, or three-dimensional (3D) tumor models, can be grown from established cell lines or dissociated cells from tissues in a serum-free medium containing appropriate growth factors. Air-liquid interfaces (ALIs) represent a 3D approach that mimics and supports the differentiation of respiratory tract and skin 3D models in vitro. Many 3D tumor cell models are cultured in conjunction with supporting cell types, such as fibroblasts, endothelial cells, or immune cells. To further mimic the in vivo situation, several extracellular matrix models are utilized to support tumor cell growth. Scaffolds used for 3D tumor cell culture growth include both natural and synthetic hydrogels. Three-dimensional cell culture experiments in vitro provide more accurate data on cell-to-cell interactions, tumor characteristics, drug discovery, metabolic profiling, stem cell research, and diseases. Moreover, 3D models are important for obtaining reliable precision data on therapeutic candidates in human clinical trials before predicting drug cytotoxicity. This review focuses on the recent literature on three different tissue types of 3D tumor models, i.e., tumors from a colorectal site, prostate, and skin. We will discuss the establishment of 3D tumor cell cultures in vitro and the requirement for additional growth support.