Application of a 3D hydrogel-based model to replace use of animals for passaging patient-derived xenografts

Abstract Purpose This 3D in vitro cancer model for propagation of patient-derived cells, using a synthetic self-assembling peptide gel, allows the formation fully characterised, tailorable tumour microenvironment. Unlike many existing models, gel is inert, apart from molecules and motifs deliberately added or produced by cells within model. Methods Breast xenografts (PDXs) were disaggregated embedded hydrogel. Growth was monitored microscopic examination at intervals, extracted gels passaged on into fresh gels. Passaged assessed qPCR immunostaining techniques retention characteristic markers. Results PDXs shown to be capable expansion over four more passages gel. Contaminating mouse found rapidly removed successive passages. The resulting human compatible with range common assays useful assessing survival, growth maintenance heterogeneity. Conclusions Based these findings, hydrogel has potential provide an effective practical breast passage which will have benefits being relatively cheap, fully-defined free use animals animal products. Encapsulated require further validation confirm cell heterogeneity, genotypes phenotypes across passage, but development, including addition bespoke matrix components microenvironment, there clear other types.