3D-floating Culture for Cancer Research: A Mini-review

• Published in: Anticancer research Vol. 45; no. 8; pp. 3401 - 3408
• Main Authors: FUKUYAMA, AKIKO, KITAGUCHI, TAKANORI, YOSHIDA, KAZUMASA, MATSUMOTO, TAICHI, KOIKAWA, KAZUHIRO, NAKANO, MICHITAKA, MARUTA, GEN, MAEOKA, HISANORI, ISHIKURA, SHUHEI, SHIRASAWA, SENJI, TSUNODA, TOSHIYUKI
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Greece International Institute of Anticancer Research 01.08.2025
• Subjects: Animals; Antineoplastic Agents - pharmacology; Antineoplastic drugs; Cancer; Cancer research; Cancer therapies; Cell adhesion & migration; Cell culture; Cell Culture Techniques - methods; Cell Culture Techniques, Three Dimensional - methods; Cell growth; Culture techniques; Extracellular matrix; Fibroblasts; Gene expression; Growth models; High-throughput screening; Humans; Immune system; Immunosuppressive agents; In vivo methods and tests; Lymphocytes; Medical research; Morphology; Mutation; Neoplasms - drug therapy; Neoplasms - pathology; Nutrients; Spheroids; Tumors; Cancer spheroid; KRAS; coculture; tumor microenvironment; drug screening; review
• ISSN: 0250-7005; 1791-7530; 1791-7530
• DOI: 10.21873/anticanres.17702

Unlike conventional two-dimensional cell cultures, three-dimensional (3D) culture systems can more accurately replicate key gene expression and drug sensitivity features of the tumor environment. Of the various 3D culture techniques, 3D-floating (3DF) culture has the unique ability to facilitate high-throughput screening while enabling both visual and quantitative appraisal of the interactions between cancer and immune cells in the presence of exogenous drugs. In this study, we used this method to evaluate treatment against adhesive and non-adhesive cancer cells and found Pyra-Metho-Carnil to be a promising new anticancer drug for refractory cancers. Thus, in this study, we discuss how the use of 3DF cultures can advance cancer research.