resident in nutritiion
Medical University - Plovdiv, Bulgaria
3D cell cultures have been extensively used and have already proven the physiological and predictive superiority of 3D systems over conventional monolayer methods. The next level for even more intricate and relevant drug testing platforms in oncology and personalized medicine is advancing to the biological implementation of new technologies such as microfluidics and 3D bioprinting, which are already showing promising results.
3D Bioprints as a Platform for Colorectal Cancer Drug Testing
We tested a few of the most commonly used chemotherapeutics in CRC—5-fluoruracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin, and irinotecan as single agents and in different combinations on both monolayers of HCt-116 cells and on 3D bioprints. In addition we tested Equol - the soy isoflavone daidzein is a precursor of equol which exhibits estrogen-like activity and has an anti-inflammatory potential. Because of its lipophilic structure and high bioavailability, equol is associated with higher anticancer activity than its precursor. There are no published reports so far on the effect of Equol on 3D bioprinted CRC models.
Our data demonstrate that the application of Equol in combination with the standard chemotherapeutic 5-FU results higher cytotoxicity on 3D CRC cell models and gives grounds for subsequent tailoring of anticancer treatment regimens.
Therefore, Equol has the potential to be employed as an alternative supplement in the adjuvant therapy of CRC.