Three-Dimensional Cell Culture at the Frontiers of in Vitro Cancer Research: Present Perspectives

Authors

  • Soo Leng Lee Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Zainal Ariff Abdul Rahman Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Hidetsugu Tsujigiwa Laboratory of Histopathology, Department of Life Science, Faculty of Science, Okayama University of Science, 1-1 Ridai-cho, Kita-ku, Okayama 700-0005, Japan
  • Kiyofumi Takabatake Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
  • Keisuke Nakano Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
  • Wen Lin Chai Department of Restorative Dentistry, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
  • Hitoshi Nagatsuka Department of Oral Pathology and Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, 2-5-1 Shikata-cho, Okayama 700-8525, Japan
  • Chong Huat Siar Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.22452/adum.vol23no1.1

Keywords:

Cell culture, cellular microenvironment, cell-to-cell interaction, cellular morphology, cell polarity, extracellular matrix

Abstract

In recent years, three-dimensional (3D) in vitro cell culture models have earned great attention, especially in the field of human cancer disease modelling research as they provide a promising alternative towards the conventional two-dimensional (2D) monolayer culture of cells with improved tissue organization. In 2D cell culture systems, the complexity of cells on a planar surface does not accurately reflects the in vivo cellular microenvironment. Cells propagated in 3D cell culture model, on the other hand, exhibit physiologically relevant cell-to-cell interactions and cell-to-extracellular matrix (ECM) interactions, important in maintaining a normal homeostasis and specificity of tissues. This review gives an overview on 2D models and their limitations, followed by 3D cell culture models, their advantages, drawbacks and challenges in present perspectives. The review also highlights the dissimilarities of 2D and 3D models and the applicability of 3D models in current cancer research.

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Published

2017-12-28

Issue

Vol. 23 No. 1 (2016)

Section

Review Article

License

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