Self-assembly of vascularized tissue to support tumor explants in vitro
- Clinical Condition
- Testing the efficacy of cancer drugs requires functional assays that recapitulate the cell populations, anatomy and biological responses of human tumors.
- Current Practice
- Xenografts from patients to mice do not grow or slow.
- In vitro assays lack the appropriate in vivo cell heterogeneity and natural microenvironment.
- Solution
- Methodology for maintaining harvested tumor tissue in vitro by placing them in a support bed with self-assembled stroma and vasculature.
- Applicability to ex vivo drug-screening and guidance of patient-specific therapeutic strategies.
