Fibroblast stromal support model for predicting human papillomavirus-associated cancer drug responses

Human papillomavirus-related cancers (HPV⁺ cancers) remain a significant public health concern, and specific clinical approaches are desperately needed. In translating drug response data from <i>in vitro</i> to <i>in vivo</i>, the fibroblasts of the adjacent stromal support network play a key role. Our study presents the utilization of a fibroblast 2D co-culture system to better predict translational drug assessments for HPV⁺ cancers. We also suggest that this co-culture system should be considered for other translational approaches. Predicting even a portion of treatment paradigms that may fail <i>in vivo</i> with a co-culture model will yield significant time, effort, resource, and cost efficiencies.