Researchers at Auburn University have developed a 3D engineered prostate cancer tissue model with properties that are informed by direct comparison tests with xenograft tumor tissue specimens.
In the most recently published study, tumor xenografts were established in mice, excised, sliced into 1mm thick sections, and cored with a 3mm biopsy punch. The location within the tumor (core, midpoint, periphery) was noted. The in vitro companion work involved spinning a mix of cancer cells and fibroblasts into a cell pellet, suspending this in a polymer precursor, molding this solution into a 3mm diameter by 1mm tall cylindrical tissue, and culturing this construct for a defined duration. The stiffness of these tissues was controlled by varying the cell seeding density, matrix composition, and culture time.
The research team is now set to use this in vitro tool for disease modeling and drug development studies.
The researchers used the CellScale MicroTester G2 to measure the stiffness of the tissue xenograft and in vitro specimens.
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