AUTHOR=Law Andrew M. K. , Rodriguez de la Fuente Laura , Grundy Thomas J. , Fang Guocheng , Valdes-Mora Fatima , Gallego-Ortega David 

TITLE=Advancements in 3D Cell Culture Systems for Personalizing Anti-Cancer Therapies

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Oncology

VOLUME=11

YEAR=2021

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2021.782766

DOI=10.3389/fonc.2021.782766

ISSN=2234-943X

ABSTRACT=<p>Over 90% of potential anti-cancer drug candidates results in translational failures in clinical trials. The main reason for this failure can be attributed to the non-accurate pre-clinical models that are being currently used for drug development and in personalised therapies. To ensure that the assessment of drug efficacy and their mechanism of action have clinical translatability, the complexity of the tumor microenvironment needs to be properly modelled. 3D culture models are emerging as a powerful research tool that recapitulates <italic>in vivo</italic> characteristics. Technological advancements in this field show promising application in improving drug discovery, pre-clinical validation, and precision medicine. In this review, we discuss the significance of the tumor microenvironment and its impact on therapy success, the current developments of 3D culture, and the opportunities that advancements that <italic>in vitro</italic> technologies can provide to improve cancer therapeutics.</p>