Researchers at Tsinghua University have devised a technique to cultivate kidney cancers in vitro, utilising cells from actual patients, presenting a promising new instrument in the battle against renal cancer. Their study, published in the journal Biofabrication, delineates how 3D bioprinting technology might be employed to recreate the distinct properties of each patient’s cancer.

The team integrated cancer cells with several cell types, including structures resembling blood vessels, to replicate the in vivo environment. The lab-cultivated tumours, referred to as organoids, are derived from actual patient tumour cells and precisely replicate their characteristics. This realistic model offers a more precise framework for examining tumour progression and evaluating the efficacy of various therapies. The technology diminishes the necessity for labour-intensive manual procedures, facilitating expedited and more scalable testing.

The annual incidence rate of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is rising, presenting a significant hazard to human health. A primary problem in treatment is that numerous patients exhibit poor responses to chemotherapy, and targeted therapies vary in efficacy among individuals. Tumours exhibit considerable variability, and temporal genetic alterations may result in treatment failure, medication resistance, and an increased likelihood of recurrence. Contemporary laboratory models frequently exhibit inconsistency and fail to precisely represent cancer behaviour in vivo, complicating the evaluation of viable treatment alternatives.

The novel 3D bioprinting technique surmounts these constraints by generating organoids that preserve the characteristics of the original tumours. This enables researchers to rapidly evaluate several medicines and determine the most efficacious solutions before clinical application.

“This new method could greatly improve how we study kidney cancer and develop personalised treatments for patients,” states Dr. Yuan Pang, co-author of the study. “The rapid production of organoids will make it much faster to find the right treatment for individual patients.”

About Biofabrication

Biofabrication is a hybrid open-access journal published by IOP Publishing, the publishing division of the Institute of Physics. It emphasises innovative research on the utilisation of cells, proteins, biological materials, and biomaterials as foundational components for the fabrication of biological systems and/or therapeutic products. The publication serves as the official magazine of the International Society for Biofabrication (ISBF).

About the authors

Yuan Pang serves as an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Tsinghua University and is a visiting researcher at the University of Tokyo. Her research concentrates on biomanufacturing and three-dimensional bioprinting. She is a member of the Board of the Asian Federation of Societies for Alternatives in Animal Experiments, participates in many professional committees, and occupies editorial positions in several academic journals.

Dr. Jianzhong Shou is a Professor of Urology at the Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences. He focuses on the diagnosis and treatment of renal, bladder, and prostate malignancies. He presides over and participates in significant oncology committees in China, contributed to national renal cancer guidelines, and is a member of the editorial board of the Chinese Journal of Urology.

Summary

• A novel technology developed by Tsinghua University uses 3D bioprinting to cultivate kidney cancer organoids derived from patient cells.
• Organoids incorporate cancer cells with vascular-like structures to replicate the tumour’s natural milieu.
• Models accurately duplicate each patient’s malignancy, facilitating exact examination of tumour proliferation and pharmacological response.
• The method is more efficient, less laborious, and scalable in comparison to conventional laboratory models.
• Examines the issues associated with renal cell carcinoma (RCC), including heterogeneous treatment responses and drug resistance.
• Facilitates the swift evaluation of several medicines to ascertain the most efficacious customised treatment.

Original Publication
Journal: Biofabrication
DOI: 10.1088/1758-5090/adecc5
Method of Research: Experimental study
Subject of Research: Cells
Article Title: Bioprinting of Patient-Derived Heterogeneous Renal Cell Carcinoma Organoids for Personalized Therapy
Article Publication Date: 12-Aug-2025
COI Statement: The authors state no conflict of interest.

Original Source: https://ioppublishing.org/news/3d-printed-kidney-tumours-show-potential-for-more-targeted-treatment/