A groundbreaking research initiative at the University of Waikato in Auckland, New Zealand, is leveraging the power of 3D printing to create life-size breast cancer tumor models. This innovative approach, spearheaded by Masters student Shalini Guleria, aims to revolutionize the way breast cancer treatments are developed and tested, potentially leading to faster and more effective therapies for women battling this disease.
Guleria’s research centers around the creation of realistic tumor replicas using 3D printing technology. Initially, she has been utilizing plastic to print models that are approximately palm-sized and semi-circular, serving as prototypes to refine her design. However, the core of her research involves employing commercially available cancer cells in a process known as bioprinting. This will allow her to observe the growth patterns of cancer cells in a three-dimensional environment, mirroring the natural development of tumors within the human body.
Having successfully navigated the design phase, Guleria is now focused on validating the feasibility of bioprinting with cancer cells. Her hypothesis is that a 3D printed model will offer a significantly more accurate representation of human cancers compared to traditional 2D models. “Once the tumor is printed we will be able to slice it and look into the depths of the cell,” she explains. “You can look at how the tissues are growing, the fibers connecting and the cell organelles – the things that make the cell grow – how they differ to the 2D model.” This detailed examination at a cellular level is crucial for understanding tumor biology and drug response.
The next critical step in Guleria’s research involves testing the efficacy of chemotherapy drugs on these 3D printed tumor models. She plans to use cisplatin, a commonly used chemotherapy drug, to observe how the 3D tumor reacts in comparison to the reactions observed in 2D models. This comparative analysis is vital as it could reveal significant differences in drug response, potentially leading to more refined and effective treatment protocols. “Testing cancer drugs on a more realistic model may mean we can hone how we use them,” Guleria states. “If we can reduce the treatment time and the dosage, obviously the side-effects will be less, making treatment less traumatic for women.”
Looking towards the future, Guleria envisions a highly personalized approach to cancer treatment stemming from her research. She hopes that this method could pave the way for taking cells directly from a patient’s tumor and using them to create a patient-specific 3D printed model. This model could then be used to test various treatment options and develop a highly targeted and individualized treatment plan. “We may be able to take the cells from someone who has cancer, and use them to produce something we can test very specifically for that patient. Then we could make a detailed treatment plan for an individual’s body, rather than take a generic approach. A panadol might work for you, and not someone else – everyone’s bodies are different.” This vision of personalized medicine holds immense promise for improving treatment outcomes and reducing the burden of breast cancer for individuals.
