Cancer Patients’ Own Cells Used to Test Treatments

Researchers used a brain cancer patient's cells to make a model of a tumor¹ to test treatments before using them on the body. The tumor model was created with 3D printing materials.

The scientists removed a piece of the tumor from a patient with glioblastoma and used it to print a model of the tumor. That explanation comes from Professor Ronit Satchi-Fainaro, who led the research at Tel Aviv University in Israel.

Glioblastoma is an aggressive form of brain cancer.

The patient's blood is pumped through the printed tumor and then a drug or therapeutic² treatment is pumped in.

Earlier studies have used similar "bioprinting" methods to reproduce cancer environments. But the Tel Aviv University researchers say they are the first to print a "viable³" tumor.

Satchi-Fainaro said they have about two weeks to test the different therapies on a tumor and find a fitting treatment for the patient.

A treatment is considered promising⁴ if the printed tumor shrinks or if it lowers metabolic⁵ activity.

The research was released on Wednesday in the publication Science Advances.

Glioblastoma is the most common form of brain cancer in adults. It spreads quickly to other parts of the brain, making it difficult to treat. Survival is around 40 percent in the first year and 17 percent in the second. That information is from the American Association of Neurological Surgeons.

Researchers have often printed 3D tumor models to plan for surgery. But more recent developments have used live cells as a kind of printing substance to build up the parts of a tumor.

Ofra Benny leads similar research at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem. She said using a patient's own cells to make 3D tumor models could be "a game changer in the field of personalized medicine."

The more these 3D models are made, the better the prediction for how a treatment will work on the patient's tumor, she said.

Words in This Story

Tumor - n. a mass of tissue found in or on the body that is made up of abnormal cells

3D printing - n. the construction of a three-dimensional object from a computer model or a digital 3D model

Viable - adj. capable of being done or used

Metabolic - adj. of or relating to metabolism⁶

Surgery - n. medical treatment in which a doctor cuts into someone's body in order to repair or remove damaged or diseased parts

1 tumor   

n.（肿）瘤，肿块(英)tumour

参考例句：

• He was died of a malignant tumor.他死于恶性肿瘤。
• The surgeons irradiated the tumor.外科医生用X射线照射那个肿瘤。

2 therapeutic   

adj.治疗的，起治疗作用的；对身心健康有益的

参考例句：

• Therapeutic measures were selected to fit the patient.选择治疗措施以适应病人的需要。
• When I was sad,music had a therapeutic effect.我悲伤的时候，音乐有治疗效力。

3 viable   

adj.可行的，切实可行的，能活下去的

参考例句：

• The scheme is economically viable.这个计划从经济效益来看是可行的。
• The economy of the country is not viable.这个国家经济是难以维持的。

4 promising   

adj.有希望的，有前途的

参考例句：

• The results of the experiments are very promising.实验的结果充满了希望。
• We're trying to bring along one or two promising young swimmers.我们正设法培养出一两名有前途的年轻游泳选手。

5 metabolic   

adj.新陈代谢的

参考例句：

• Impressive metabolic alternations have been undergone during embryogenesis.在胚胎发生期间经历了深刻的代谢变化。
• A number of intoxicants are associated with metabolic acidosis.许多毒性物质可引起代谢性酸中毒。

6 metabolism   

n.新陈代谢

参考例句：

• After years of dieting,Carol's metabolism was completely out of whack.经过数年的节食，卡罗尔的新陈代谢完全紊乱了。
• All living matter undergoes a process of metabolism.生物都有新陈代谢。