Conventionally, in vitro cellular studies are performed in two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures, where most of the normal tissue-specific environmental cues are missing. Cells have to adapt to this unnatural growth conformation, suffering cytoskeletal rearrangements, acquiring artificial polarity, and losing some of the biological characteristics of the original tissue, such as differentiation, cell-to-cell communication and extracellular matrix interactions. Over the past decade, different culture methods have been established to produce 3D models of diverse types of tissues to better recapitulate the in vivo microenvironment of these normal cells or of specific disease conditions.
These 3D models can be useful in the drug development process, by increasing the predictive value of the pre-clinical evaluation, which is recognized as one of the limiting factors in the translation of preclinical findings into the clinical setting. A paradigmatic example is evaluation of anti-tumoral drugs that when performed in 2D cellular cultures can lead to misleading results, given that drug effects related to cell-cell interactions, differentiation and cancer stem cells are likely undetected.
Moreover, 3D models are becoming increasingly relevant in the context of precision and personalized medicine, both as diagnostic tools, as in the case of Cystic Fibrosis, and patient-specific treatment selection platforms. The 3D models developed from patient-derived materials vs conventional transformed cell lines present the advantage of being genetic stable, and therefore can be explored as patient-derived primary cell platforms.
This Research topic focus on the development of 3D models of disease, their validation and exploration, and aims to provide a forum for presenting the latest advances in pre-clinical and translation applications. We believe that models such as spheroids, organoids and organs-on-a-chip and their use for diagnostic and personalized therapy selection are the next step in the progress of Personalized Medicine not only in the field of cancer, but also in metabolic and neurological disorders and human genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis or other orphan diseases.
We welcome submissions in the following areas:
• Novel spheroids models - tumorspheres and organotypic multicellular spheroids
• Novel organoids models – derived from adult stem cells or HiPS (human induced pluripotent stem cells)
• Novel methods for organ-on-a-chip platforms
• New applications for diagnostics
• Novel drug screening platforms based on 3D models
• Patient-specific therapeutic testing
• Use of 3D-cultures for regenerative purposes
Original research submissions, interdisciplinary works, and topical minireviews are welcomed.
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Dr. Jeffrey Beekman has regular interactions with commercial parties including pharmaceutical companies, and holds public-private partnerships with such companies. Dr. Jeffrey Beekman holds a patent related to this Research Topic. Dr. Jeffrey Beekman co-founded FAIR therapeutics BV, and has a minority shareholders position.
Dr. Filipa Mendes holds patents related to this Research Topic.
Conventionally, in vitro cellular studies are performed in two-dimensional (2D) monolayer cultures, where most of the normal tissue-specific environmental cues are missing. Cells have to adapt to this unnatural growth conformation, suffering cytoskeletal rearrangements, acquiring artificial polarity, and losing some of the biological characteristics of the original tissue, such as differentiation, cell-to-cell communication and extracellular matrix interactions. Over the past decade, different culture methods have been established to produce 3D models of diverse types of tissues to better recapitulate the in vivo microenvironment of these normal cells or of specific disease conditions.
These 3D models can be useful in the drug development process, by increasing the predictive value of the pre-clinical evaluation, which is recognized as one of the limiting factors in the translation of preclinical findings into the clinical setting. A paradigmatic example is evaluation of anti-tumoral drugs that when performed in 2D cellular cultures can lead to misleading results, given that drug effects related to cell-cell interactions, differentiation and cancer stem cells are likely undetected.
Moreover, 3D models are becoming increasingly relevant in the context of precision and personalized medicine, both as diagnostic tools, as in the case of Cystic Fibrosis, and patient-specific treatment selection platforms. The 3D models developed from patient-derived materials vs conventional transformed cell lines present the advantage of being genetic stable, and therefore can be explored as patient-derived primary cell platforms.
This Research topic focus on the development of 3D models of disease, their validation and exploration, and aims to provide a forum for presenting the latest advances in pre-clinical and translation applications. We believe that models such as spheroids, organoids and organs-on-a-chip and their use for diagnostic and personalized therapy selection are the next step in the progress of Personalized Medicine not only in the field of cancer, but also in metabolic and neurological disorders and human genetic diseases such as Cystic Fibrosis or other orphan diseases.
We welcome submissions in the following areas:
• Novel spheroids models - tumorspheres and organotypic multicellular spheroids
• Novel organoids models – derived from adult stem cells or HiPS (human induced pluripotent stem cells)
• Novel methods for organ-on-a-chip platforms
• New applications for diagnostics
• Novel drug screening platforms based on 3D models
• Patient-specific therapeutic testing
• Use of 3D-cultures for regenerative purposes
Original research submissions, interdisciplinary works, and topical minireviews are welcomed.
----------
Dr. Jeffrey Beekman has regular interactions with commercial parties including pharmaceutical companies, and holds public-private partnerships with such companies. Dr. Jeffrey Beekman holds a patent related to this Research Topic. Dr. Jeffrey Beekman co-founded FAIR therapeutics BV, and has a minority shareholders position.
Dr. Filipa Mendes holds patents related to this Research Topic.
