Feature

Building better tumour models: How 3D bioprinting supports cancer research

Cancer remains one of the most challenging and costly diseases to treat. With global cases rising each year and the average cost of developing one cancer drug reaching $4.4 billion, there is a growing need for research processes that improve both efficiency and effectiveness. This is where approaches like 3D bioprinting can play a role, offering the ability to build cancer models that closely resemble actual human tumours and replicate their responses to treatments in development.

03/11/2025 16:23:10

Today, most preclinical cancer studies rely on either 2D cell cultures or animal models to simulate how tumours behave and respond to treatments. However, these models have distinct shortcomings. 2D cultures often lack the complexity found in real human tissues, while animal models can respond differently to drugs compared to humans. As a result, many drugs that appear effective in the lab do not work as expected in human clinical trials.

This gap between laboratory success and clinical effectiveness plays a major role in the high failure rate of oncology drugs.

As many as 92 percent of cancer treatments that move into human testing never make it to market, due to a lack of effectiveness or unforeseen side effects. Bioprinted models offer one opportunity to close this gap by providing more accurate, patient-relevant platforms for testing therapies before expensive clinical trials begin.

Read the full article in DPA's November 2025 issue

Written By Sophia Bell

Sophia Bell is the Group Editor of DPA, Connectivity, and PBSI. She joined the team in 2020 as Assistant Editor after achieving a First-Class Honours BA in English Literature and Film Studies from the University of East Anglia. In her current role, she leads the editorial strategy, driving digital growth and ensuring each title continues to deliver trusted, relevant insight for engineering and manufacturing professionals.