Three-Dimensional Bioprinting, Organ-on-a-Chip, and Other Experimental Platforms for Tumor Microenvironment Studies

Dear Colleagues,

Cancer continues to be a major global health concern, accounting for approximately 8 million deaths annually. According to the GLOBOCAN 2020 report, 19.3 million new cancer cases are diagnosed each year, a number projected to rise to 28.4 million by 2040. Breast cancer is anticipated to become the most prevalent type (11.7%), followed by lung cancer (11.4%), colorectal cancer (10.0%), prostate cancer (7.3%), and stomach cancer (5.6%). Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality, responsible for 1.8 million deaths annually (18%).

To address the increasing cancer burden, there is an urgent need to develop advanced experimental models that better replicate the biology of a human tumor and its surrounding microenvironment. Cancer is a heterogeneous disease driven by complex interactions among tumor cells, the extracellular matrix, immune cells, and stromal components. Traditional models, such as monolayer cell cultures, often fail to represent these interactions and the structural organization of human tumors, limiting their predictive value in cancer research and the development of therapies.

To overcome these limitations, researchers are increasingly turning to advanced platforms such as 3D bioprinting and organ-on-a-chip systems.

• Three-dimensional bioprinting allows for the spatial arrangement of multiple cell types within biomimetic scaffolds, enabling the fabrication of tissue-like structures that closely mimic the tumor architecture and cellular heterogeneity. These constructs support the study of tumor growth, angiogenesis, and drug responses in a more physiologically relevant context.
• Organ-on-a-chip systems, based on microfluidic technology, provide a dynamic environment that replicates the physical and biochemical conditions of the human body. When integrated into tumor cells and tissues, these platforms allow the investigation of cancer cell behavior, tumor–stroma interactions, and the impact of therapies under controlled flow and gradient conditions.

Furthermore, patient-derived xenografts (PDXs) and tumor organoids are increasingly being used to capture the unique characteristics of individual tumors. These models offer the potential for more personalized cancer research and can help in identifying effective treatment regimens that reflect patient-specific responses. Combining these patient-derived models with 3D bioprinting and organ-on-chip technologies can result in a powerful approach to studying tumor progression and therapeutic efficacy in a realistic and scalable manner.

For this Special Issue, we invite research articles and reviews that focus on the development and application of advanced experimental models in cancer biology and treatment, including the following:

• Applications of 3D bioprinting in constructing tumor microenvironments and mimicking human cancer tissues;
• Organ-on-a-chip systems for the dynamic modeling of tumor growth, metastasis, and drug responses;
• The development of hybrid models combining patient-derived cells with advanced culture systems;
• The comparative evaluation of traditional and emerging cancer models across tumor types such as breast cancer, lung cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, and melanoma;
• The use of tumor models to study treatment efficacy, resistance, recurrence, and therapeutic outcomes;
• Preclinical strategies for personalized cancer modeling and drug testing.

This Special Issue will highlight recent progress and future directions in cancer modeling, with a focus on platforms that can bridge the gap between basic research and clinical relevance. We welcome your contributions to this important and rapidly evolving field. We invite the submission of original research, comprehensive reviews, and novel perspectives that will advance the development and application of cancer models toward more predictive and translational oncological outcomes.

Dr. Arvind Kumar Shukla
Dr. Sayan Deb Dutta
Guest Editors

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• 3D bioprinting
• organ-on-chip systems
• patient-derived xenografts (PDXs)
• tumor organoids
• tumor microenvironments