From bidimensional cell cultures to organoids: the progress in the field of neoplasia|Dalle colture cellulari bidimensionali agli organoidi: il progresso nel campo delle patologie neoplastiche

From bidimensional cell cultures to organoids: the progress in the field of neoplasia Neoplasia continues to be the second leading cause of death worldwide after cardiovascular diseases. In the context of neoplasia, the case of cell cultures is fundamental for understanding and studying possible pharmacological treatments for this heterogeneous and complex pathology. The use of preclinical models has become increasingly prevalent; the currently most used model involves 2D cell cultures, but despite their great versatility, they have shown limitations in reproducing the complex structures and interactions that occur during carcinogenesis. Therefore, with the advent of 3D cultures, such as spheroids and organoids, preclinical research has significantly improved, as these models can reproduce some typical characteristics of the tissue from which they derive, including tumour tissue. Different protocols have been published for creating 3D cultures based on the use of a scaffold or even without it (scaffold-free). Thanks to numerous studies conducted using 3D cultures, directly stabilized from patient tissues, the great importance of these models, particularly for precision medicine, has been appreciated. They can be fully integrated into preclinical research as well as at the clinical level.