Tumor Organoids


Book Description

Cancer cell biology research in general, and anti-cancer drug development specifically, still relies on standard cell culture techniques that place the cells in an unnatural environment. As a consequence, growing tumor cells in plastic dishes places a selective pressure that substantially alters their original molecular and phenotypic properties.The emerging field of regenerative medicine has developed bioengineered tissue platforms that can better mimic the structure and cellular heterogeneity of in vivo tissue, and are suitable for tumor bioengineering research. Microengineering technologies have resulted in advanced methods for creating and culturing 3-D human tissue. By encapsulating the respective cell type or combining several cell types to form tissues, these model organs can be viable for longer periods of time and are cultured to develop functional properties similar to native tissues. This approach recapitulates the dynamic role of cell–cell, cell–ECM, and mechanical interactions inside the tumor. Further incorporation of cells representative of the tumor stroma, such as endothelial cells (EC) and tumor fibroblasts, can mimic the in vivo tumor microenvironment. Collectively, bioengineered tumors create an important resource for the in vitro study of tumor growth in 3D including tumor biomechanics and the effects of anti-cancer drugs on 3D tumor tissue. These technologies have the potential to overcome current limitations to genetic and histological tumor classification and development of personalized therapies.




Tumor Microenvironment


Book Description

This volume covers the topics presented at the 3rd International Conference on Tumor Microenvironment and Cellular Stress by an international community of researchers. The conference brings together scientists to discuss different cellular and animal models of tumor microenvironment study and identify common pathways that are candidates for therapeutic intervention; stimulate collaboration between groups that are more focused on elucidation of biochemical aspects of stress biology (e.g., HIF regulation) and groups that study the pathophysiological aspects of stress pathways or engaged in drug discovery; and critically evaluate novel targets for imaging or therapeutic intervention that would be of use to the tumor microenvironment community and pharmaceutical industry.




Ex Vivo Engineering of the Tumor Microenvironment


Book Description

This volume will outline how to recreate the tumor microenvironment, to culture primary tumors without the need for developmental priming factors, and to deliver targeted therapeutics in a manner that recapitulates pharmacokinetics in vivo. Much of what may be learned from this volume will aid in understanding many aspects of the enhanced study of tumor cell biology in a physiologic context, open new avenues for drug screening and biomarker development, and accelerate the preclinical evaluation of novel personalized medicine strategies for patients in real time.




Cancer Drug Delivery Systems Based on the Tumor Microenvironment


Book Description

This book proposes the importance of new systems of drug design and delivery based on cancer pathophysiology in addition to cancer molecular and cellular biology. The current studies based on molecular and cellular biology while ignoring pathophysiology and pharmacology may be leading the development of antitumor drugs in the wrong direction and wasting a lot of money. Although there have been numerous reports of genetic and phenotypic changes in tumors, a large body of pathological and clinical evidence supports the conclusion that there are no pivotal changes in tumor cells that distinguish them consistently and reliably from normal dividing cells. Unlike using antibiotics against bacterial infection, therefore, anticancer agents (ACAs) need to be delivered selectively to tumor tissues and should be kept there long enough to reproduce the concentrations they reach in the Petri dish, which is a closed space where the cytocidal effects of any anticancer agents (ACAs) including molecular targeting agents are very strong. In the body, however, administered ACAs are cleared with the passage of time. Furthermore, most human cancers possess abundant stroma that hinders the penetration of drugs into the tumor microenvironment. Therefore, to overcome these difficulties, novel drug delivery systems have been designed, such as nanoparticles and ACA conjugated antibodies to stromal components and to cancer cell surface antigens. These advances are described in this book after the first section, which describes core features of the pathophysiology of the cancer microenvironment, on which these new developments are based.




Engineering and Physical Approaches to Cancer


Book Description

Engineering and Physical Approaches to Cancer addresses the newest research at this interface between cancer biology and the physical sciences. Several chapters address the mechanobiology of collective and individual cell migration, including experimental, theoretical, and computational perspectives. Other chapters consider the crosstalk of biological, chemical, and physical cues in the tumor microenvironment, including the role of senescence, polyploid giant cells, TGF-beta, metabolism, and immune cells. Further, chapters focus on circulating tumor cells and metastatic colonization, highlighting both bioengineered models as well as diagnostic technologies. Further, this book features the work of emerging and diverse investigators in this field, who have already made impressive cross-disciplinary scientific contributions. This book is designed for a general audience, particularly researchers conversant in cancer biology but less familiar with engineering (and vice-versa). Thus, we envision that this book will be suitable for faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and advanced graduate students across medicine, biological sciences, and engineering. We also anticipate this book will be of interest to medical professionals and trainees, as well as researchers in the pharmaceutical and biomedical device industry. Describes physical aspects of cancer, including collective cell migration, the aberrant tumor microenvironment, circulating tumor cells, and metastatic colonization. First volume available on the topic of physical aspects of cancer




Tumor Models in Cancer Research


Book Description

Beverly A. Teicher and a panel of leading experts comprehensively describe for the first time in many years the state-of-the-art in animal tumor model research. The wide array of models detailed form the basis for the selection of compounds and treatments that go into clinical testing of patients, and include syngeneic models, human tumor xenograft models, orthotopic models, metastatic models, transgenic models, and gene knockout models. Synthesizing many years experience with all the major in vivo models currently available for the study of malignant disease, Tumor Models in Cancer Research provides preclinical and clinical cancer researchers alike with a comprehensive guide to the selection of these models, their effective use, and the optimal interpretation of their results.




Animal Models in Cancer Drug Discovery


Book Description

Animal Models in Cancer Drug Discovery brings forward the most cutting-edge developments in tumor model systems for translational cancer research. The reader can find under this one volume virtually all types of existing and emerging tumor models in use by the research community. This book provides a deeper insight on how these newer models could de-risk modern drug discovery. Areas covered include up to date information on latest organoid derived models and newer genetic models. Additionally, the book discusses humanized animal tumor models for cancer immunotherapy and how they leverage personalized therapies. The chapter on larger animal, canine models and their use in and their use in pre-investigational new drug (pre-IND) development makes the volume unique. Unlike before, the incorporation of several simplified protocols, breeding methodologies, handling and assessment procedures to study drug intervention makes this book a must read. Animal Models in Cancer Drug Discovery is a valuable resource for basic and translational cancer researchers, drug discovery researchers, contract research organizations, and knowledge seekers at all levels in the biomedical field. Encompasses discussions on innovative animal models, xenograft, genetic models, primary models, organoid systems, humanized and other models in modern biology paradigms that are enhancing research in the field of drug discover Covers the use of these models in personalized medicine, immunotherapy, toxicology, pre-IND assessments and related drug development arenas Presents protocols, procedures, and a comprehensive glossary to help new readers understand technical terms and specialized nomenclature




Tumor Microenvironment: Cellular, Metabolic and Immunologic Interactions


Book Description

Over the past decade, the tumor microenvironment has become one of the most important research areas in cancer biology, as cells within the tumor microenvironment, despite being outnumbered by healthy cells, are able to evade surveillance and immune-mediated destruction. While researchers have learned a great deal about the cellular and structural makeup of the tumor microenvironment, there has been a growing understanding of the metabolic interplay between the tumor micronenvironment’s various cellular constituents and how each of them contributes to overall tumor growth and metastases. This new volume will guide researchers, students, oncologists and academics through a rapidly developing and changing field with a thorough understanding of tumor microenvironment biology from a cellular, structural, metabolic, and immunological perspective.