Advances in three-dimensional bioprinting and artificial intelligence for enhanced tumor modeling: Current progress and future perspectives

Over the past decade, the global increase in cancer prevalence and cancer-related mortality has fueled extensive research to enhance the effectiveness of cancer treatments. Such efforts include the fabrication of lab-grown tissues and organs for transplantation, and the development of in vitro models for cancer drug testing and screening. Notably, three-dimensional (3D) tissue models offer advantages over two-dimensional cultures and have benefited from recent advancements in cutting-edge techniques like 3D printing, enabling the reconstruction of various tumor models in vitro. In this review, we focus on recent progress in in vitro 3D tumor models, with particular emphasis on the roles of 3D bioprinting and artificial intelligence. Furthermore, we provide future perspectives on employing bioprinting to develop tumor models that accurately mimic the complexity and heterogeneity of real tumor microenvironments.