3D Phenotypic Cell Models for Cancer

Research in cancer is challenging due to the nature of tumour heterogeneity and the intricate complexity of the tumour microenvironment. The highly variable genetic profiles of individual cancer cells within a single tumour leads to variable treatment responses, limiting the effectiveness of treatments. Traditional 2D cell culture models, although valuable, frequently fail to accurately replicate the dynamic tumour microenvironment, thereby limiting their effectiveness in predicting the outcomes of anti-cancer therapies. The absence of physiologically relevant cancer models that can account for this diversity further complicates the development of effective treatments.

Matrix

Models

Instrument

RASTRUM Matrix stiffness classes (Px01, Px02, Px03 and Px06) and representative tissue types.

Tailored matrix composition
Offers customised matrix composition for a range of tissue types to accurately mimic the tumour microenvironment (TME), enabling recreation of conditions surrounding cancer cells for realistic experimental outcomes.
Tissue stiffness variation
Mimics varying tissue stiffnesses (0.7–4.8 kPa) to study cancer cell responses and interactions with their mechanical microenvironment, and gain insights into tumour progression and metastasis.
Optical clarity
Facilitates high-resolution imaging of cancer cell behaviours and dynamic processes within the TME. This system is engineered for clarity and stability, enabling detailed analysis and long-term observation of cancer progression.

RASTRUM 3D cell models support a range of architectures from single, double and triple matrix.

TME replication
Utilises diverse architectures to faithfully recreate the tumour microenvironment and study cancer progression in a physiologically relevant context.
Flexible spatial arrangements
Interrogates relationship between cell phenotype and matrix by studying cells in different environments within the same well, facilitating the discovery of novel anti-cancer strategies.
Dynamic experimental control
Adjusts experimental parameters such as matrix composition and stiffness to enhance the relevance and translatability of experimental findings.

User-friendly interface
Provides an intuitive user experience with no coding required, ensuring accessibility for researchers with varying technical backgrounds.
Efficient workflow
Offers a streamlined workflow and setup process, optimising efficiency and ease of use, allowing researchers to focus more on analysis.
Cell-friendly handling
Accommodates sensitive cell types, including patient-derived cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and immortalised cells, this system maintains their integrity and physiological relevance throughout experiments while being gentle on cells.

Tumour microenvironment

Mimic the TME with complex 3D cell model architectures and reproducible matrix arrangements to meet your needs

Explore the roles of stromal cells, such as endothelial cells, immune cells and fibroblasts, in tumour processes using RASTRUM 3D co-culture models that simulate dynamic cell-cell interactions in different tissue stiffnesses.

Read guide

Cancer drug discovery

Drive meaningful therapeutic advancements from lab to clinic

Investigate the complexity of tumour development, disease modelling and cancer progression using RASTRUM 3D cell models that support the culture of a range of cancer cell types and various drug testing analyses, aiding in the discovery of novel cancer therapies.

Read guide

Immuno-oncology

Model the dynamic interactions between immune and cancer cells in vitro

From direct co-cultures at a local level to indirect co-cultures at a tissue level, study tumour–immune cell interactions and immunotherapeutic strategies effectively using RASTRUM 3D immuno-oncology models that replicate the in vivo tumour microenvironment.

View poster

Migration and invasion

Access a new world of flexibility to interrogate cancer cell behaviours

Discover realistic cell migration in the context of development, immune response, cancer metastasis, and inflammation with RASTRUM phenotypic cell models using a large number of tissue and cell types that mimic in vivo microenvironments.

Read application note

Cancer-CustomerSpotlight-MariaKavallaris

Cancer cells on the move

Prof. Maria Kavallaris AM at the Children's Cancer Institute used the RASTRUM Platform to develop matrix-embedded cancer organoids. The research aimed to understand cancer cell migration and invasion mechanisms for targeted drug treatments. The webinar introduced a high-throughput 3D cell migration model for real-time measurement of cell movement and detailed molecular analysis, advancing potential drug screening for novel cancer therapies.

Watch webinar

Read publication

Explore featured resources to enhance your cancer research

Beyond simple co-cultures: Development of complex tissue architectures in 3D

Learn more

EGFR and PI3K Signalling Pathways as Promising Targets on CTCs from Patients with Metastatic Gastric Adenocarcinoma

International Journal of Molecular Sciences | May 2024

Learn more

High-throughput phenotypic screening with RASTRUM™ 3D cell models

Learn more

Painting in 3D: High throughput phenotypic screening in printed 3D cell culture

Learn more

Enabling high throughput drug discovery in 3D cell cultures through a novel bioprinting workflow

SLAS Technology | February 2022

Learn more

Monitoring cell health at scale in 3D matrix cultures is as easy as in 2D

Learn more

Advancements-in-3D-cell-culture_Square_Preview

Advancements in 3D Cell Culture Systems for Personalizing Anti-Cancer Therapies

Frontiers in Oncology | November 2021

Learn more

Integration of RASTRUM™ and AlphaLISA® for drug discovery in 3D cell cultures

Learn more

GelMA, click-chemistry gelatin and bioprinted polyethylene glycol-based hydrogels as 3D ex vivo drug testing platforms for patient-derived breast cancer organoids

Pharmaceutics | January 2023

Learn more

Advanced spheroid, tumouroid and 3D bioprinted in-vitro models of adult and paediatric glioblastoma

International Journal of Molecular Sciences | March 2021

Learn more

A comparative analysis of 2D and 3D experimental data for the identification of the parameters of computational models

Learn more

Cancer

Reproducible tumour microenvironments

at scale

The challenge

Every cancer is unique, demanding precise and relevant models to develop effective anti-cancer therapies

The Inventia solution

Reliably model complex biology for your cancer research

Matrix

Models

Instrument

Tailored matrix compositionOffers customised matrix composition for a range of tissue types to accurately mimic the tumour microenvironment (TME), enabling recreation of conditions surrounding cancer cells for realistic experimental outcomes.

Tissue stiffness variationMimics varying tissue stiffnesses (0.7–4.8 kPa) to study cancer cell responses and interactions with their mechanical microenvironment, and gain insights into tumour progression and metastasis.

Optical clarityFacilitates high-resolution imaging of cancer cell behaviours and dynamic processes within the TME. This system is engineered for clarity and stability, enabling detailed analysis and long-term observation of cancer progression.

TME replicationUtilises diverse architectures to faithfully recreate the tumour microenvironment and study cancer progression in a physiologically relevant context.

Flexible spatial arrangementsInterrogates relationship between cell phenotype and matrix by studying cells in different environments within the same well, facilitating the discovery of novel anti-cancer strategies.

Dynamic experimental controlAdjusts experimental parameters such as matrix composition and stiffness to enhance the relevance and translatability of experimental findings.

User-friendly interfaceProvides an intuitive user experience with no coding required, ensuring accessibility for researchers with varying technical backgrounds.

Efficient workflowOffers a streamlined workflow and setup process, optimising efficiency and ease of use, allowing researchers to focus more on analysis.

Cell-friendly handlingAccommodates sensitive cell types, including patient-derived cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and immortalised cells, this system maintains their integrity and physiological relevance throughout experiments while being gentle on cells.

Tumour microenvironment

Mimic the TME with complex 3D cell model architectures and reproducible matrix arrangements to meet your needs

Explore the roles of stromal cells, such as endothelial cells, immune cells and fibroblasts, in tumour processes using RASTRUM 3D co-culture models that simulate dynamic cell-cell interactions in different tissue stiffnesses.

Cancer drug discovery

Drive meaningful therapeutic advancements from lab to clinic

Investigate the complexity of tumour development, disease modelling and cancer progression using RASTRUM 3D cell models that support the culture of a range of cancer cell types and various drug testing analyses, aiding in the discovery of novel cancer therapies.

Immuno-oncology

Model the dynamic interactions between immune and cancer cells in vitro

From direct co-cultures at a local level to indirect co-cultures at a tissue level, study tumour–immune cell interactions and immunotherapeutic strategies effectively using RASTRUM 3D immuno-oncology models that replicate the in vivo tumour microenvironment.

Migration and invasion

Access a new world of flexibility to interrogate cancer cell behaviours

Discover realistic cell migration in the context of development, immune response, cancer metastasis, and inflammation with RASTRUM phenotypic cell models using a large number of tissue and cell types that mimic in vivo microenvironments.

Customer spotlight

How RASTRUM phenotypic models are being used in cancer research

Cancer cells on the move

Explore featured resources to enhance your cancer research

Beyond simple co-cultures: Development of complex tissue architectures in 3D

EGFR and PI3K Signalling Pathways as Promising Targets on CTCs from Patients with Metastatic Gastric Adenocarcinoma

High-throughput phenotypic screening with RASTRUM™ 3D cell models

Painting in 3D: High throughput phenotypic screening in printed 3D cell culture

Enabling high throughput drug discovery in 3D cell cultures through a novel bioprinting workflow

Monitoring cell health at scale in 3D matrix cultures is as easy as in 2D

Advancements in 3D Cell Culture Systems for Personalizing Anti-Cancer Therapies

Integration of RASTRUM™ and AlphaLISA® for drug discovery in 3D cell cultures

GelMA, click-chemistry gelatin and bioprinted polyethylene glycol-based hydrogels as 3D ex vivo drug testing platforms for patient-derived breast cancer organoids

Advanced spheroid, tumouroid and 3D bioprinted in-vitro models of adult and paediatric glioblastoma

A comparative analysis of 2D and 3D experimental data for the identification of the parameters of computational models

Discuss your next cancer research project with us

Reliably model complex biology
for your cancer research

Tailored matrix composition
Offers customised matrix composition for a range of tissue types to accurately mimic the tumour microenvironment (TME), enabling recreation of conditions surrounding cancer cells for realistic experimental outcomes.

Tissue stiffness variation
Mimics varying tissue stiffnesses (0.7–4.8 kPa) to study cancer cell responses and interactions with their mechanical microenvironment, and gain insights into tumour progression and metastasis.

Optical clarity
Facilitates high-resolution imaging of cancer cell behaviours and dynamic processes within the TME. This system is engineered for clarity and stability, enabling detailed analysis and long-term observation of cancer progression.

TME replication
Utilises diverse architectures to faithfully recreate the tumour microenvironment and study cancer progression in a physiologically relevant context.

Flexible spatial arrangements
Interrogates relationship between cell phenotype and matrix by studying cells in different environments within the same well, facilitating the discovery of novel anti-cancer strategies.

Dynamic experimental control
Adjusts experimental parameters such as matrix composition and stiffness to enhance the relevance and translatability of experimental findings.

User-friendly interface
Provides an intuitive user experience with no coding required, ensuring accessibility for researchers with varying technical backgrounds.

Efficient workflow
Offers a streamlined workflow and setup process, optimising efficiency and ease of use, allowing researchers to focus more on analysis.

Cell-friendly handling
Accommodates sensitive cell types, including patient-derived cells, induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and immortalised cells, this system maintains their integrity and physiological relevance throughout experiments while being gentle on cells.