A 3D-bioprinted osteogenic niche model reveals bone microenvironment-driven malignant phenotypes in prostate cancer.

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

• Level A · Stronger Clinical Evidence
• Level B · Emerging clinical evidence with positive signals
• Level C · Early human research exploring benefits
• Level D · Scientific groundwork from lab and animal studies
• Emerging · Emerging topic under active research

Abstract (original English)

Introduction Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent malignancies in men and frequently progresses to bone metastasis. Understanding the interactions between PCa cells and the bone microenvironment, as well as their impact on therapeutic response, is therefore of critical clinical relevance. Objectives This study aimed to investigate the effects of the osteogenic microenvironment on prostate cancer cells by constructing three-dimensional (3D) bioprinted in vitro co-culture models, and to evaluate how the osteogenic niche influences tumor malignant phenotypes. Methods This study employed extrusion-based 3D bioprinting (3DP) to construct in vitro co-culture models of the PCa osteogenic microenvironment. Two 3D-PCa models based on LNCaP and PC-3 cells were each co-cultured with osteogenically differentiated adipose-derived stem cells (ADSCs) to generate corresponding osteogenic niche models. Tumor phenotypes and drug responses were evaluated using functional assays, histological and immunofluorescence analyses, molecular profiling, and RNA sequencing. Results The 3D bioprinted constructs exhibited structural stability and high reproducibility, providing a 3D growth environment that mimics key aspects of the in vivo tumor niche. The 3D-PCa models showed enhanced drug resistance, invasive potential, and adaptation to androgen-deprivation. Meanwhile, ADSCs exhibited robust

Evidence level

Evidence from laboratory and animal studies provides groundwork for understanding mechanisms and potential before human studies continue.

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