Three-dimensional epithelial cultures: a tool to model cancer development and progression

Abstract

Loss of cell polarity is a hallmark of cancer, and although this feature is commonly observed in advanced tumors; growing evidence indicates that loss of cell-cell adhesion and cell polarity may also be important in early stages of cancer. Despite recent important advances, much remains unclear about the molecular and biophysical mechanisms involved in phenotypic changes observed in epithelial architecture during carcinogenesis. Over the past decade the use of three dimensional cultures (3D) has emerged as a valuable tool to study the functions of cancer genes and pathways in an adequate polarized context. 3D cultures are an outstanding tool to understand the morphologic consequences of molecular alterations. In other words, 3D cultures allow a much better understanding of the pathological features of tumours, with the microscope. In this review we will focus on how 3D models have provided unique insights into how basic cell biological processes impact in higher-order tissue architecture and how these models have enhanced our understanding of carcinoma biology.