Development of A 3D Lung Tumor Model For Cell Death Assessment in Microwave Ablation

Abstract

Primary lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer-related death worldwide. Recent statistics estimate 1.8 million new cases and 1.6 million deaths per year. Despite significant advances in surgery, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy, the 5-year survival rate remains at just 18%. Thermal ablation is an established treatment that is safe and effective. It refers to the local application of controlled heat to induce irreversible cell injury and ultimately tumor apoptosis and necrosis. This approach is particularly suitable for the treatment of small tumors in patients who are not suitable for surgery. However, the lack of suitable benchtop models to assess ablation devices complicates prognostic prediction and the development of effective treatment strategies. In this context, the development of a 3D lung tumor model is presented using a cancer cell-laden hydrogel composed of 2% hyaluronic acid–tyramine (HA-TA) and 0.5% agarose, resulting in a tumor mimetic of clinically relevant size. This innovative model provides a valuable platform for testing ablation devices and provides insights that can significantly improve prognostic ability and refine treatment approaches for lung cancer patients.